Bill Dawson | Shibuichi Pear Spindle

Artist:  Bill DawsonMaterials: The spindle whorl is forged from kouroshibuichi (5%Ag), with the grape vine of inlayed and carved copper, the pear branches of inlayed shibuichi (25%Ag), with the pear blossoms of fine silver and fine gold.  The stave is carved from Port Orford Cedar. Dimensions: Diameter, 2 1/2"(65mm) - Stave length, 8" (210mm) Origin of featured materials: Shining Wave Metals / Phillip Baldwin Story behind the piece:  The Japanese alloys used in this piece I hammered out of bars from Shining Wave.  I hammered the whorl into a disc that is thicker in the center, tapering out to rather thin before thickening the edge.  I then carved sockets and inlayed the branches both of pear and grape.  Once secured in the background, I carved and stoned these to shape.  The gold and silver for the flowers I attached using nunome inlay.  After a great deal of final shaping and texturing, I gave the whorl a patina, using rokusho, which I also obtained from Shining Wave. One of the thin