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Guilloche Enamel Solid Sterling Silver Water Lily Picture Frame

About the Item

Exceptional, hand fabricated one-of-a-kind blue guilloche enamel picture frame. No detail overlooked on this piece of art. The enamel scrollwork was created using a very rare 1875 Ornamental Lathe. These types of machines were used by such artisans as Faberge to create their works. Formal Description of Picture Frame: Cast sterling silver round bezel, rose-engine-turned with a wavy form in both the axial and radial directions, and modeled with a textured and patinated channel on the face; the blue guilloché enamel plate engraved with an aligning moiré pattern and pierced by 3 apertures for photographs; the apertures with sterling silver millgrained rims separated by three silver lily pads, each topped with a silver water lily flower and half-pearl, and all centered on a larger silver lily flower and pearl; the rear cover of sterling silver, engine-turned with a spiral pattern and secured by small thumbscrews with further, tiny lily flower heads; supported by a hinged sterling silver strut. Diameter 6" Weight 18.68 try ounces. Primarily from the solid silver. Design Development: The case for this piece began as an exploration of the simultaneous use of two modes of Rose Engine operation that are normally employed only individually, namely the rocking mode, in which forms are created that are radially wavy, i.e. wavy from left-to-right, and the pumping mode, in which forms are created that are axially wavy, i.e. wavy from front-to-back. With the machine properly configured for simultaneous pumping and rocking, I created a wax casting model 6" in diameter, hollowed to a uniform wall thickness to facilitate a good casting. The engraving underneath the enamel was designed to create the impression that the case was a continuation of the waves radiating from the moonstone at the center of the enamel. The color was chosen to invoke Water; the moonstone to invoke the Night. The lily appliquees just seemed a natural fit in this moonlit aquatic scene. Construction: The central guilloche enamel began as Fine Silver sheet that was engine turned on the same Rose Engine that was used to create the model for the case. It was then domed, pierced for the photograph apertures and appliquee attachment, and finally enameled. The wax for the case was created on the Rose Engine as described. It was successfully cast in Sterling after several attempts, with some difficulty owing to its large size. The casting was then lathe turned to establish true surfaces for fitting the enamel. Threaded inserts for securing the back cover were laser welded into place. The wavy surfaces were all hand finished and the channel was textured by hand with a punch. The three lily pad appliquees were hand fabricated from silver sheet and wire, including the wrinkled panels of reticulated silver. The water lily flowers were built up in hand-pierced layers of sterling sheet and shaped into settings for the little half-pearls, then fitted with threaded fasteners for attachment, including those that secure the back panel. The three inner frames were first turned on the lathe in wax, and then cast in Sterling. Fabricated cylindrical walls were fitted to the apertures in the enamel and then soldered to the back surfaces of the rough castings. The castings were then finished and millgrained, again on the lathe. Finally glass plates were cut and ground to fit into the inner frames. The back is a sheet of engine turned Sterling, attached by 4 screws to the tapped holes in the case. The strut was first fabricated in silver, then molded and cast. To this was soldered a fabricated hinge assembly that is bolted to the back plate of the frame. Materials Used: Fine Silver - 999 Sterling Silver - 925 Reticulation Silver - 800 Pearls Glass Paperboard and Fabric for photo backing Artist Bio: Bill Brinker I’ve been passionately metalsmithing since 1971, and professionally since 1981. After 14 years as a pro custom jeweler in the Denver/Boulder area I joined Andreas von Zadora’s stable of technical specialists in 1995 as a goldsmith and enamelist. My CAD skills soon made me the Project Manager for Zadora’s most complicated and challenging commissions. Consequently I regularly collaborated with highly accomplished jewelers, setters, gemstone cutters, hand engravers, watchmakers, clockmakers and mechanical engineers, in Europe and the USA. I was the technical designer and Project Mgr for scores of Object commissions that cost over $50k to make, plus 3 major works that sold for $1M or more. Zadora’s company went bankrupt in 2008 Financier Crisis. After that I worked for Todd 2011-2015. I’ve been freelancing and developing new products since then.
  • Creator:
    Brinker Studio
  • Metal:
  • Stone:
    Freshwater Pearl
  • Stone Cut:
  • Weight:
    18.68 t oz
  • Dimensions:
    Diameter: 6 in (152.4 mm)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    2017
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Boulder, CO
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2880216528192

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