Storm seaweed

Real specimens of seaweed that I collect from the beach - usually after a storm when there is plenty washed up and I can choose the perfect shapes for wearing as jewellery. 

The seaweed is dried - a bit of a tricky business as it continually wants to re-hydrate! When I manage to catch it at its driest I paint it with many layers of recycled silver paste. Then it is kiln fired to remove the organic binders and water, sintering the silver particles together. Capturing each specimen as pure, fine silver (999) as the real thing burns away. 

Sometimes I gild the silver by adding 24 carat gold using the ancient Korean technique of Keum-Boo. This process uses heat and pressure to create a permanent diffusion bond between the two precious metals.