Rust Lust

The fossilised egg of an iron dragon...?

This lovely textured stone is from the collections at Manchester museum. The iron content that makes up the rock has rusted in the atmosphere over time and weathered beautifully exposing different layers. Rust is something we're used to seeing in man-made metal objects, but here it is in a natural, organic object.

I have sculpted this ring in an iron and resin composite. It starts off pale and gradually darkens as the metal content oxidises within. The little old metal hammer I acquired (origin unknown!) has been rusting for such a long time it looks like it has formed organically rather than being intentionally manufactured.

More close ups of the rusty rock from the museum

One of these unique experimental rusted rings are available online Craft & Culture here. Smooth to the touch from the hand shaping and polishing this one is also sculpted around a piece of peacock ore mineral inclusion embedded withing with purple and gold tones.

I am currently researching more textures of objects in Manchester Museum, really looking forward to sharing the fruits of my labours soon... 

Behind the Bespoke

The first cast from a mould taken from a one-off master. A mixture of naturally formed raw quartz crystal and cast resin. the rest of the body of the ring will now be built up and cemented with more material.

Here is some background on a recent ring I was commissioned to make for a lover of bold, unique sculptural jewellery. Experimental and organic, it takes time and observation to let a piece like this develop.

This scrummy chunk of ferrous pyrite has the same textures I want to evoke through my processes. Naturally rusty and glittering due to it's combination of minerals and metals.

Hand shaping with files and emery paper, enhancing the natural shapes and creating my own angles and protrusions.

You may notice the cast was originally a dull grey colour. The coloration on the finished ring is due to the iron inclusions in the resin, it is essentially controlled rusting, a process usually prevented at all costs when causing a deterioration in metal objects (just see my poor tools). This ring is rusting to become the glittering metallic-brown, enhanced with lots of graded polishing and finishing. Here are some of the rusted metal fragment residue in my bowl from the shaping I did. To me it looks like a swirling galaxy in the surface of the dirty water. Even the messy work can become beautiful if you look at it closely.

Finished ring, coloured by rust, and finally encrusted with pyrite.

A crown or crystals

For enquiries into having your own bespoke piece made or giving the opportunity as a redeemable gift certificate just get in touch via info@jademellor.com and I'll be happy to answer any questions.