Singing Lemur^TM Jewelry: First Casting

Actually producing one's first metal castings is a milestone for a jeweler, and deserves some commemoration. Even if the pieces themselves are relatively simple, the process of putting everything together to do it is not.

[N.B., The photographer and writer wishes to note that these are "quick and dirty" photographs intended simply to record things. The photographing of jewelry, beads, and other shiny things is an art in itself; we're getting there, but the photographs qua photographs here are not yet art. It is, however, astonishing how well dust photographs.]

The Shop Beast

The first metal casting of the jewelry studio of Singing Lemur Productions was a small "beastie" or "critter" in sterling silver. He is not a cat, nor a bear, but then again he's not entirely not a cat or a bear. He is himself. We think that he'll become a sort of a shop mascot or perhaps a genius loci (spirit of the place). He has a name; he just isn't telling us what it is yet.

Here he is below, shown in three forms: as a wax carving (sitting on a US dime), freshly broken out of the casting investment (the "stand" that he is sitting on is actually the sprue through which the silver was poured and the "button" of silver remaining outside of the mold), and polished a bit.

As photographed, he is still "in process"; we need to open up his mouth (as shown this is a defect in the casting caused by a problem with the investing procedure) and further polish him. He needs, after all, to speak so that we can learn his name. (On the other hand, perhaps a jewelry shop beast should be eating silver?)

The Rose Ring

This is a simple design indeed: a wedding ring in 14k rose gold. It is, however, in a size not generally available in this alloy, and it was made fairly quickly for a client with a rapidly approaching wedding.

It was cast minutes after the Shop Beast. Both of them were lost-wax investment castings using a vacuum casting process.

It is shown below in two forms: fresh from the mold, and near final polish.

Thanks

Special thanks to Norman Krandall, for his support in many ways, and to Hans Ruebel, for being simply the best metalcasting instructor.

lemur.com^{TM, SM}