grasshopper Click any of the images on this page for details on the stunningly original Insect Jewelry creations shown here.   assassin pin mayflies black widow cicada stag beetle praying mantis bumble bee beetle scarab (dung beetle) flea ladybugs

ants   one of two available lice   scorpion butterfly Jewelry that is unique. Insect forms reproduced with such life-like detail that one expects them to move, and many of them do, with fully articulated joints and wings. All the pieces you see here are hand made by the Repousee method of metal forming in limited editions. Original designs in 925 Sterling Silver, Bronze or an artful combination of those metals. Click here to learn more about repousee. wasps termite crawfish dragon fly cricket

The Artist's own words about his Mostly Mechanical Insect Jewelry:

After many years of collecting and studying insects, they have very literally invaded my work as an artist. These Insect brooches are my favorite pieces to make.

Each is crafted by the Repousee Process, an ancient technique of forming metal using pitch (gooey tar) and a series of hammers and chisels. The process is also referred to as Chasing. This allows the artisan to hold the metal and give the metal the voluptuous form otherwise not possible. This is also why the pieces are so dimensional and sculptural . The forms are then cast by lost wax process and assembled.

Accuracy is important to me, and making them anatomically correct is one of the things that makes them special, especially to the insect authority and insect enthusiast. However I have taken some liberties and used my artistic license on certain pieces. In fact there are even a few that I have made up completely. Be sure and see the very rare Hieronymus Beetle or the sleek Shield Beetle, exclusive to the Luna Parc Insect line. Don't try looking these up in your field guide.

Nearly all the Insect brooches have articulated legs. Many heads and wings are jointed and really have great movement, characteristic of each individual bug.

Making the original model is a time consuming process. Depending on the insect and how much movement I decide to give it determines the time involved in constructing the piece. The crayfish for example required approximately 30 hours of work, cutting, fitting, soldering and etching. After which a mold is made of each separate part and cast by the Lost Wax process. Once the parts are cast, each bug is assembled and finished by me. Though the finished pieces are from the same mold no two are exactly alike and each bug has it's own individual movement.
 

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