8 x 8 x 0.2 cm
Silver plated steel chain, silver solder, surgical steel posts and backs
These earrings are made using dead stock chain which I buy in batches. Because I am sourcing dead stock materials, I often have surprises. This chain was sold as sterling silver, but is definitely a ferrous metal that has been plated.
I only have a limited amount of this style of chain and I am not sure if I will be able to source more, so this specific model is a very limited edition which I first made at the end of 2021.
The process of making these earrings is very organic, so every pair is slightly different in design.
After I solder the chain together I dip the pieces in liver of sulphur and then buff them to unify the finish.
Much of the silver plate burns off during soldering, leaving the steel exposed. If they are humid, or become wet and aren't properly dried they can rust. On many of my pieces I have intentionally rusted them slightly, the surface colours can be quite beautiful, and this kind of oxidation can become part of the evolution of the piece if the wearer so chooses.
Emily Lewis is a Nova Scotian jewellery artist based in Quebec City. She is the owner of Studio METHOD(E) and Galerie Lewis, a contemporary jewellery studio and contemporary craft gallery respectively. She is dedicated to the development of community and support networks in the Quebec City region, provincially and nationally. She works hard to create accessible spaces for work, diffusion and reflection.