Silver And Gold Japanese Flower Pendant

I etched this charming Japanese design 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 Gold Foil onto pure silver is an ancient Korean technique called Keum Boo.

I painted patina onto petals facing each other.

Dimensions : 3/4 inch X 3/4 inch. The chain is delicate loop on loop sterling silver 18 inches with a magnetic clasp.