A chunky blackened and textured silver ring with a hinged top, inlaid with a hand carved Mother-of-Pearl disc. This is a statement piece, dramatic and satisfying to wear.
The inside of the ring is highly polished silver while the outside has been treated with a black patina and then buffed back to reveal the raw silver highlighting the textures and form. The shape of this ring is inspired by the button making industry and the dark colour from the deep sea where Mother of Pearl comes from.
I remember long ago in Birmingham exploring some derelict land and finding the leftover offcuts of the button manufacturing process. Old shells with lots of tiny holes cut from them. Most buttons were made like this before plastic became popular. It’s amazing to think that people worked in factories all day cutting and drilling the shells. The dust from these beautiful objects, once the homes of strange fish, is really harmful to the lungs. Each little microscopic fiber has a hook that is impossible to remove from lung tissue. There is a great article about American button history here if you are interested.
The top section of the ring is attached by a tiny rivet inserted through a hinge. It makes a satisfying tap as it brushes against the ring. The band is textured and the black patina is polished to bring out the depths of the pattern.
I chose to make the ring black, I love the colour and how it contrasts with the Mother of Pearl and the silver. It reminds me of the depths of the sea where the shells live before we harvest them. The inset in the top section is carved with circles, representing the bubbles of the water as it froths onto the shore and its hinge allows constant movement just like the ocean.
The ocean button measures 59mm. It contains 15 grams of silver.
If you would like to own it please contact me directly