Greta Garbo's Pendant

Every project begins with drawings and samples. Starting the Custom jewelry for Greta Garbo’s Project

Once the drawing has been approved we can start the process of carving the wax models

Next Step cast and finish the components

We made 26 different castings (no molds) to create the pendant.

One of our favorite parts of working at the bench is getting the castings back from the caster. With fingers crossed we open up the box with hope that they all came our well. The 26 waxes were now all in a beautiful matte finish yellow bronze.

Working within a fixed budget we could not acquire custom cut old mine cut gems. So we set the radiant gemstones table side down to help create the illusion of old diamond cuts

We cast our components in yellow bronze. Clean up for the metal was very easy because our wax work was so clean.

The small flowers will be set with garnets.

Garnet cabochons are set in the center of the flowers. For the wheat we had a few extra original gemstone beads from the Greta Garbo gown.

Prepping the castings for the next step - soldering the 26 pieces to the backplate.

Soldering and finishing the pendant

We soldered the components on the backplate in several steps. You had to be careful not to get the backplate too hot or it will warp from the heat. After the final bath of hydrogen peroxide and alcohol which removes the copper coloring and reveals the color of the bronze.

We decided to make the backplate out of nickel silver for hardness and color. The final touches were to use a wire brush to clean the soldered pendant and give it a light texture.

Next step...plating.The assembled pendant was prepped and ready to ship to the plating company.

We selected the Hematite chain over the modern chain. The Hematite chain was made from extra beading from the costume gown. This we felt was more true to the costume designer’s original idea for a pendant.

Once completed we hand delivered the pendant to the Academy Museum, being part of the installation process was exciting. If yo owul dlike to read more about the project click the link below:

 
Kathleen

Kathleen Lynagh is a designer and author with a passion for creating unique, custom made jewelry that reflect elegance and individuality.
Drawing inspiration from art and nature, her designs blend timeless aesthetics with modern sensibilities. In addition to her work as a designer, Kathleen shares her insights and experiences through writing, offering a deeper look into the artistry and craftsmanship behind her creations. She strives to create jewelry that not only enhances personal style but also tells a meaningful story.

https://Kathleenlynagh.com
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Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - The Hollywood Costume Exhibit

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Wax Carving for Garbo