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 My mermaid comb
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| Author | Topic: My mermaid comb |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-21-2011 11:41 AM
  
[01-2990] I'm very excited to share my new hair comb with fellow silver fans. I think it really ought to belong to a mermaid. The chased tear-shaped design elements--water drops? seaweed?--create a gleaming, lacy effect where the comb peeks up over the top of my head from the front. I'll try to get a good picture of it soon. Can anyone guess the maker? IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-21-2011 11:46 AM
Back view of my head with comb: IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-21-2011 12:03 PM
Front view: It's hard to get a good photo from the front. The camera keeps focusing on my boring old face instead of the comb. IP: Logged |
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Kayvee Posts: 204 |
posted 11-21-2011 01:31 PM
What fun! Do you hum to yourself "I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade," when you wear it? IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-21-2011 01:44 PM
Yes, that's exactly what I hum. IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 11-21-2011 02:02 PM
Geez, Polly - that's a stunner.....did you have to mug some innocent steampunker to get it? Looks like seaweed to me, and I'm going to guess Wm. Kerr, though Unger Bros. came into my head too. ~Cheryl IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-21-2011 03:57 PM
Thank you, Cheryl! I love those guesses, but no, not Kerr or Unger Bros. IP: Logged |
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denimrs Posts: 102 |
posted 11-21-2011 06:01 PM
Holy Moly, that is fabulous! I love the design of the whole thing. Even the prongs have a great look. And, I am drawing a total blank on possible maker. So, I will just throw in my true love for wonderful sterling, Shiebler? Or, maybe Tiffany? Elizabeth [This message has been edited by denimrs (edited 11-21-2011).] IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 11-21-2011 06:28 PM
What a wonderful design! I believe the filigree is meant to be seaweed. There are a number of species that have those nodule shapes all along the long narrow leaves. I just did a quick search and saw a species called yellow tang (Latin name - Ascophyllum nodosum) that is common on both sides of the Atlantic that has this shape. I am sure there must be others as well. As for the maker my only guess is Shiebler since they did so many fantastic designs on their flatware, but it could be another American or even European maker as well for all I know. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 11-22-2011 07:07 AM
wonderful fun piece, congrats on finding it. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-22-2011 09:53 AM
Thank you! No, not Shiebler, though that's a good guess. Not Tiffany, either. Shall I post a photo of the marks? IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-22-2011 12:48 PM
Here are the marks: IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 11-22-2011 07:32 PM
Ahhh, not surprising he'd do an octopus! He does do such beautiful work, but for some reason, wasn't expecting a comb from a modern silversmith - a commission piece, perhaps? ~Cheryl IP: Logged |
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denimrs Posts: 102 |
posted 11-22-2011 07:50 PM
Oh, I almost said that, but....well, I could not remember his name. I could see exactly his booth at a craft show in Great Barrington MA where I saw him once or twice, but his name was just not in my head. And, while the comb looked very new and pristine, I just assumed it would be older. What a great find! And, lucky you. I would love to have something by Mr. Butler. Maybe some day.... Elizabeth IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 11-22-2011 10:31 PM
If you want to see more by Robert, Our visit with Robert Butler silversmith IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-22-2011 11:19 PM
Yes, in fact, it was a commission. I asked Rob to make me a mermaid's comb with an octopus reminiscent of my favorite Shiebler coffee spoons. I'm just thrilled with how it turned out. Mr. Husband and I visited with Rob and his lovely wife and got to tour his workshop when we went to pick up The Octopus on Sunday. It was great fun seeing all his hammers, the teapot he made for his grandmother when he was just 16 (his first piece), his favorite spoons... IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 11-23-2011 11:02 PM
I would like to thank you all for the amazing compliments! To be compared to any one of those companies is humbling. Cheryl, I am a frustrated Victorian silversmith (I am happiest when I can put in all the bells and whistles) so this felt very natural to do. Elizabeth and Kimo, Shiebler? I am honored. But you need your glasses checked... Seriously my chasing is not quite up to that level. I am not a full time chaser so I am happy with the result but if you compare I could have spent another day on it! Elisabeth, Thank you for the memory of the craft show, I no longer do them but come by, I no longer have an apprentice so visitors are welcome. Lastly, my thanks to Polly, who has been a patient and thoughtful patron with great ideas that made this design come alive. I have some images I took when it was in the works which I will post after the festivities - until then every one have a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving. I leave you all with the thought that perhaps tomorrow is the one day of all days when the most people of all persuasions and backgrounds will haul out their silver - a very happy day for silverphiles across the nation. [This message has been edited by agleopar (edited 11-24-2011).] IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 11-24-2011 11:27 PM
Images from the making of the Octopus Hair Comb - please ask any questions... IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 11-24-2011 11:30 PM
Last ones... IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-25-2011 01:04 PM
Rob, that is so cool! I love seeing the process. I didn't quite realize that you chase before you pierce, but it makes much more sense that way. I also imagined that the comb teeth were a separate piece, but apparently not, right? I love the photo of the comb stuck in pitch. I wish I had your skills. It must feel wonderful to make something so beautiful. I'm very lucky that I get to wear it. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-25-2011 01:06 PM
Here's a question: Where did the silver come from for the comb? Was it part of some other object like a tray, or was it an ingot, or what? IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 11-25-2011 03:59 PM
Hi Polly, great questions and they both have a related answer. The teeth needed to be almost 3/32nds of an inch thick. I am very bad at math so here is the decimal thickness - .080" (2.0mm). That is eighty thousands of an inch. Where as to save weight the top part needed to be very thin - .024"(.06mm). So they are two different pieces. I had nothing thick enough in the work shop. Since I was going to NYC (and I was too lazy to cast an ingot and roll it out) I bought a 2"x 3" .080" piece of sterling sheet. The thin one is part of a 1990's tray that was going to scrap and I cut off the rim and bought the flat part from my friend before it was melted. It was .040"(1.0mm) and I rolled it down to .024". Then the teeth were pierced out and soldered to the top sheet. A very normal thickness of a cup, tray, bowl, etc. is .040"(1.0mm) I am sorry that I did not think to take pictures from the start when it just was marked out and also the first flat chasing to establish the design. I do have a few more images but they only show more or less of what you see. Thank you for the compliment but by the by I have read both your books and you have the equal or better of my skills and you are much younger! [This message has been edited by agleopar (edited 11-25-2011).] IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 11-26-2011 08:54 AM
Agleopar, Is the octopus in a bed of seaweed or in the center of churning water? Either way the depiction shows just the right amount of energy to be eye-catching, but not frightening. Congraulations! IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 11-26-2011 07:55 PM
Ahwt, Polly originally wanted me to do my own thing based on the weight and size of her favorite antique hair comb. It was flat and beautifully bright cut on one side only. I wanted to do something 3 dimensional and she asked that it have 2 sides. I did a rough prototype version of what I thought of as many drops of water that was chased and repoussed in a positive/negative pierced abstract pattern. I think Polly felt it was boring but the drops made her think of an octopus and that was it! The drops around the octopus are positive/negative so it looks the same from the front and the back. Thank you for the compliment - sometimes the design and the making combine to make a successful piece and this was really fun from start to finish. [This message has been edited by agleopar (edited 11-26-2011).] IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 11-27-2011 12:21 PM
"Boring" is very far from my original reaction! But I adore the combination of the figural octopus and the abstract water-design elements. IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 11-29-2011 09:40 PM
I only meant boring compared to when you suggested the octopus!  IP: Logged |
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salmoned Posts: 336 |
posted 12-01-2011 07:04 PM
Hah! I thought it was a variety of kelp. IP: Logged |
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