Blooming Lotus Silver and Gold

I found a small metal lotus in an old jewelry box while looking for something else. I cleaned it up and decided to use it as a template to make a silver clay lotus, which I put on a curved surface to dry. The final appearance was that of a blooming lotus which I made into a pendant.

The lotus is the national flower of India. It is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists and is found in Persian and Moghul art in so many ways. It grows in mud and looks serene and regal. In Kerala we stayed at a place that had a pond filled with brilliant dark pink lotus. At Buddhist temples in Thailand I have seen lotus flowers painted with gold paint placed at the feet of Buddha in temples.

The Lotus symbolizes purity, honor, good fortune, longevity and the eternal soul.

The silver clay pendant was kiln fired for 2 hours, then burnished with 24K Gold Foil, an ancient Korean technique called Keum Boo and painted with a little patina for accent.

Dimensions : 1 inch X 3/4 inch on a decorative linked sterling silver 18 inch chain.