Etched Sun Pendant Sterling Silver

A sun with a geometric design around it as well as a geometric design inside the central ball of the sun. The sun is a symbol of the God Surya worshipped in India. The ancients in India were aware that without the warmth and the bounty provided by the sun we would not exist. This Indian design was etched onto Sterling Silver.

Etching is an interesting process. The pattern is copied onto blue Press and Peel paper. It is burnished onto heated sterling silver sheet. Once the piece cools, the paper is peeled off, the design is left on the silver, sort of like a tattoo. The piece is placed in an acid bath which etches the design into the silver. After the etch is deep enough the silver is placed in a neutralizing solution. The remains of the blue paper is cleaned off. The piece is sawed away from the sheet silver, filed, refined and polished. 

I depletion gilded this piece and burnished 24K Gold Foil on parts of the heated silver.

Burnishing 24K Gold foil onto pure 999 silver is an ancient Korean technique called Keum Boo.

Dimensions : 1 and 1/4 inch X 1 inch. 18 " delicate loop on loop sterling silver chain. Magnetic clasp.