Ruby, Tourmaline Serpentine Brooch

Tourmaline, rubies, silver. Lost Wax Cast.

Brooch, 3" x 2.25"

Years back, a dear friend ventured into the old high school in Boone, NC, and found a collection of specimen jars containing various relics. Among them was a perfectly coiled ring-necked snake, which she gave to me to see if there was a way I could give it new life. I crossed my fingers, said a prayer to the casting gods, and began prepping it for casting. The casting process is far from a guaranteed success, especially when casting organic matter. The little snake came out as perfection; still, the original, cast in bronze, sits on my bench. I made a mold of the metal snake, and thus the serpentine collection was born! All the snakes to follow are still that little ring-necked snake.