As promised, my New Favorite Piece! (Yes, most of Larkin's work briefly holds that title, but still...)
This is a super gemmy applegate jade (bowenite) cabochon that Larkin framed in silver vining ivy. Just look at that beautiful green glow it has when back-lit!
Larkin started the ivy leaves by texturing the sheet silver this time, which gives them an amazing veiny-looking surface. They are cut by hand from sheet metal, then the main veins added with a chisel (Larkin didn't have a chisel small enough so they fashioned one from a nail!).
I'm loving the custom bails Larkin has been adding lately-- this one features a crescent moon that accentuates the still night feeling of the piece. The back includes a fused silver tree with a moon in its branches (the picture of the back has the original stone in the background). The whole frame was oxidized dark, then the leaves, vines, and moon were hand-polished back to bright.
My photos don't do this piece justice... in real life there is more contrast between the darkly gleaming oxidized background silver and the bright polished silver features. The vines and leaves really gleam against the darker background metal, and the bright moon on the back positively glows in the dark tree branches.
This one has some serious dark, witchy vibes!