Glimmer, Russian filigree amulet

18″ x 3-1/2″ x 3/8″

photo by Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

The front of the Russian filigree amulet, with its crescent window, opens to reveal the 24k gold sunburst inside that is surrounded by a patina of color. The edge of the amulet is hand chased. The back is chased with the text: “The glimmer of light that illuminates the horizon,” referring to my love of the last flickering light of multi-hued sunsets. The Koroit (Boulder) opal is a light blue of exceptional depth with swirls of pink and lavender that echo such sunsets.

As a child, sunset was my most favorite part of the day, when a crescent moon was visible and the last remnants of late evening, summer light allowed me to stay outside just a few minutes longer. In those moments I could usually be found in the swing or under a tree in my backyard or at my grandparents’ house. While most of my family was obsessed with gardening and looking down, I always had an eye to the sky in the secret hope I might one day go to the moon.