Large Lapel Pin, Sterling Silver & Carved Amethyst

Sterling silver sheet and wire, hand milled and pulled from ingot, were used to create this pin.  An amethyst was carved for the bloom.

All fabrication was solder joined.  The round "bead" forms were made by joining two repousse domed halves.  The dramatic leaves, with their curved and "spiked" edges were stamp detailed, indicating veins, then chased to create dimension. 

The bloom is a single, hand sculpted and polished dark amethyst, rooted in a tapered silver base with two additional prongs between "petals" at the top of the flower.

Even the safety catch and pin mechanism are hand crafted !

Taxco de Alarcón usually referred to as simply Taxco is a small city and administrative center of Taxco de Alarcon municipality located in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Taxco is located in the north-central part of the state, 36 kilometres (22 miles) from the city of Iguala, 135 kilometres (84 miles) from the state capital of Chilpancingo and 170 kilometres (106 miles) southwest of Mexico City.

The city is heavily associated with silver, both with the mining of it and other metals and for the crafting of it into jewelry, silverware and other items. Today, mining is no longer a mainstay of the city's economy. The city's reputation for silverwork, along with its picturesque homes and surrounding landscapes, have made tourism the main economic activity.