Fuchsia Leaf Long Pendant

Although the tiny red and purple flowers of the fuchsia are the symbol of West Cork, I really love the leaves of this garden escapee. They are delicate, elongated forms, so very elegant, especially when dancing in the breeze. This non-native but ubiquitous plant serves as a reminder that it is possible to become part of a place, even if you were not born there. It is possible to thrive and grow in a new environment once you find the right circumstances.

Leaf - Fine silver Hallmarked 999, length 55 mm

Chain - Sterling silver, length adjustable 50-55cm, please note this chain is very fine, selected to suit the delicacy of the form

The fold-forming process

Each leaf starts off as a flat piece of sheet silver. It is folded in half then fold-formed by hand using hammers of different shapes - a process that stretches and bends the metal, creating sensuous organic shapes; exchanging straight sharp edges for smooth curves. The silver often requires annealling, as it hardens as you work it, becoming less malleable and prone to cracking. The exact placement of the hammer blows determines the direction of curves, and the final shape is only appreciated once the form is prised open.

I enjoy this process as it is a metaphor for life - our experiences hammer us into the individuals we are, too much hammering and we become inflexible, close-minded and yes, prone to cracking. We too require breaks away from this forging, to rest and realign prior to undergoing further forging.

Each piece formed in this way is unique, I don’t polish out any tool marks as these are part of the identity of the piece. Even earring pairs are subtly different, as it is impossible to produce exact replicas. This technique produces pieces that are very thin and light but have great structural strength and beautiful forms. 

THIS IS A UNIQUE PIECE