After the shape of the ring had been determined, the wax was carved by hand.
Near-finished Wax
Flattening The Signet
1. A mold is made of the original wax carving.
2. Pink wax is injected into the mold to make multiples.
3. The wax is removed from the investment mold and molten bronze is poured in.
Original Wax
Pink Wax Multiples
Rough Bronze
The first five rings failed to cast. There was adequate material, but vacuum was not able to provide enough suction on the mold, due to a faulty seal. Therefore, metal did not make it all the way to the bottom of the mold cavity.
The process was done over and the seal was ensured, resulting in five intact rings.
Wax Copies
The wax copies are prepared for being molded in investment.
Five Failures
Five Successes
Normally, if a stone were to be set in this ring, the wax carving would reflect a spot for a stone to be set in. Since this ring was solid, the cavity for the stone needed to be ground out with tools, and fit with custom-made bronze bezel wire.
This series of rings was heavily inspired by the signet rings of Ancient Greece and Rome- a carnelian cabochon was set into one ring, which symbolizes the glory of the past. Carnelian is a common ring stone used for intaglio and cameo carvings since antiquity.
The second ring was left plain and polished, symbolizing a timeless bridge between the past, present and future.
The third ring was finished with a deep brown patina, to appeal to a contemporary wearer. This rich color is a reference to the nature of time, emphasizing the passage of millennia.
