Zapotec Mask Silver And Gold Pendant

I found this amazing Zapotek Mask in my North American Indian Motif book. The Pre Columbian culture flourished in the Oaxaca valley in Southern Mexico. The masks have powerful spiritual as well as cultural meaning.

The 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. This ancient Korean process is called Keum Boo. I painted patina onto the headdress for color contrast.

The heavy 18" silver link chain gives the pendant a strong rugged look. 

Dimensions : 1 and 3/4 inches X 1 and 1/2 inches.