Textured copper pendant drizzled with tiny raindrops

The first in a line of antiqued copper designs featuring a plethora of tiny appliqued solid copper balls balanced with open spaces into which a few of the balls have lodged themselves.  It was drizzly today and the way the tiny droplets of rain cling to the first surface they encounter reminded me of this pendant.

This necklace features a circular pendant which has been textured with a crackled pattern and had small thin holes cut to create negative space.  This has been balanced by an area filled with lots of tiny hand formed balls of solid copper.   The pendant has been entirely hand crafted by me in copper clay, with every tiny ball formed with my fingers and fixed in place with tweezers - lots of painstaking delicate work.

The pendant hangs from a nice quality antiqued copper belcher chain by a large chunky copper jump ring.  It hangs 30mm (1.2") overall from the chain and the pendant is 28mm (1.1") in diameter.  The chain fastens with my own hand crafted hook and loop clasp.  You can choose your own length of chain up to 24" within this price, but if a size isn't specified, 18" will be supplied by default.  So please don't forget to specify your required length in the comments box during checkout.


What is copper clay / precious metal clay?

Copper clay is a clay like medium made from tiny particles of copper (other metals are available too), combined with an organic binder and made into a pliable clay or paste with water. After working with the clay-like medium to form the article, it is thoroughly dried to remove all of the water, the shape is then further refined and then fired at very high temperature to both burn off the binders and to cause the copper particles to fuse together as solid metal.  

It is a fascinating form of alchemy which allows results not easily achieved by conventional metalsmithing techniques and a delicate level of detail as in this case. Once fired in a very hot kiln, the result is pure solid metal - in this case, copper.