Glimmer, Russian filigree amulet

Glimmer, Russian filigree amulet

18 x 3-1/2 x 3/8 in

photos by Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

Chased, Russian filigree, keum boo amulet, suspended from a Roman chain

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. I hand stamped and chased the sides of the amulet, and chased the text “The glimmer of light that illuminates the horizon,” on the back.

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.