Rivers of Gold VIII

15″ x 3-1/2″ x 1/4″, Granulation choker is adjustable between 12″ and 15″

Awarded the Facere Jewelry Art Gallery Award, Functional Art: The Wine Country Home, Larson Gallery, Yakima Community College, Yakima, Washington

Back in the late 90’s, I began experimenting with my own chain patterns. I’ve created several, but my most favorite are the Vertebrate and the Side Weave Mesh. Both were inspired by the traditional Roman Side Weave. I wanted to create the look of that pattern in a wider, three dimensional, mesh (think chain maille) design. I was originally trying to design a wide braided pattern, which seemed unsuccessful at first until I turned it over and found that what I had intended to be the back was gorgeous.

Each link is made of a fused ring of fine silver (99% pure silver). Hundreds of them are woven in this piece’s original weave to create the look of chain maille but with the flexibility and slender feel suitable for a choker.