The finished plique-a-jour smiley

[afmetalsmith]

Plique Smiley, completed Glass plique-a-jour enamel in a fine and sterling silver filigree, with sterling silver, natural yellow sapphire, and black diamond. This pendant has a lot of movement and dances when worn, in keeping with the playful nature of the smiley face. The black is opaque enamel; the yellow is translucent, so it looks nice without light behind it and glows when back-lit. This is the other of the two pieces I created for a 2006 show featuring the smiley at the Worcester Historical Society. Worcester, MA is the original source for this icon of the 1970s. (Seen in person, the sapphire is more yellow and not as orange as it looks here.)

Comments

[medvssa.livejournal.com]

Ah, I think I understand. It is a pretty big and long hole in fact!

[afmetalsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. It was in some sense technically "impossible"!

It's just that any sort of meandering filigree in it started looking like teeth or something, and that was NOT the look I wanted, so I risked it. And it did turn out OK- but gave me some anxious moments!