RUBY INSET
CUTTLEFISH BONE TEXTURE
Melting the bronze in a crucible
bronze casted brooch
Bronze casting is an incredible process that uses casting sand to make a mold. The sand keeps the mold’s shape even after removed, and traps the molten bronze to allow it to cool.
The “flashing” is called a sprue, and it’s cut off after the molten metal has cooled. It’s cleaned in a boiling mixture of water and baking soda.
Casting sand two-sided mold with 3d print
post-processing
Includes using radial bristle discs and a tumbler to clean the residue from the sand. Then, the polishing machine uses rouge and bronze compounds. These are rolled onto the buffer and buffed against the bronze.
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Two finches fight for the same fish (dangling green brass). The horizon (pin with the bejeweled sun at the end) divides the two - the day has ended. The fish evades both birds, and in the negative space between both quarreling fowl is the silhouette of a bird at peace. The bird who did not spend the day fighting.
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Bronze is a very, very, very hard material to work with. Cutting the sprue with a jewelers saw took almost 2 hours to cut 8 mm of material. The casting process also burned the ruby. In future, a post-casting adornment technique would be wise.
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Yes!