Fuchsia Leaf Spiral Pendant

The tiny red and purple fuchsia has become the symbol of West Cork, however this plant is not native. It was probably a garden escapee several hundred years go, and while it is controversial as it is invasive in some parts, it has shown its ability to thrive in its adopted environment. The delicate flowers light up the hedgerows in late summer and autumn, but the leaves are equally exquisite. This transplant always reminds me of our ability to adapt to new places and circumstances, and that we should seek out our place to thrive and grow with wild abandon.

Leaf - Fine silver Hallmarked 999, length 35mm

Chain - Sterling silver, length 50cm, please note this is a very fine chain, selected to complement the delicate leaf 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. 

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