In theory, today will be the last day of this particular storm system’s presence here. But the forecast has been so unreliable of late, and our weather patterns so altered, that it would be wise to wait and see what tomorrow actually brings.
For now, the day is gray, fog obscuring the face of the sun. There has been a dawn, but no sunrise to witness.
And so I have reached back in memory and time, a full decade, as it happens, to one of Wings’s works that seemed to hold the golden fire of several rising suns.
The cuff pictured above was one wrought in a style that he has produced for many years, across countless individual works: a slender yet heavy nine-gauge sterling silver band stamped in traditional patterns and set with five cabochons in a line across the top. Most often, he uses turquoise in such works, the Skystone in all its variation: intense clear blue with no matrix; more characteristic robin’s egg and teal shades with beautiful spiderwebbing; soft green seafoam shades. But he has also used lapis and onyx . . . and on this one occasion, beautifully marbled amber.
When creating cuffs of this particular design, Wings usually stamps both sides of the band in a repeating pattern. Sometimes, they will differ: one traditional motif chased along the length of the outer band, visible to the world; and a second motif across the inner band, secret symbolism known only to the wearer. In this instance, the two patterns were the same: matched thunderhead symbols set side by side, conjoined on their open ends to create a motif that encompassed the directions, cardinal and ordinal points alike, forming the boundaries of a stepped world of sacred space.
Occasionally, Wings adds another accent, too, one simultaneously more subtle and more difficult to execute: hand-stamped traditional patterns along either narrow edge of the band. It’s an extraordinarily slender space in which to work, and one without easy, steady access, making the process more painstaking and labor-intensive than the work performed on the band’s outer and inner surfaces. Most often, he chooses one stamp and uses it in a repeated pattern. In this instance, he chose a more complex series of symbols, arrayed in a distinctive combination, to create an image of the sunrise through parting clouds. Together, their rays pointed upward — to the five spectacular yellow-orange suns atop the band.
And the amber cabochons were magnificent. These were not the lab amber so ubiquitous today, synthetic material that looks plasticky and feels like it, too. No, these were round orbs of fire and depth, with hardened whorls and droplets embedded beneath their glossy, polished surfaces. Together, they produced the effect of several suns arrayed together, an image of welcoming warmth and power.
I already owned a few pieces of amber jewelry, and I fell in love with this cuff on sight. Unfortunately for me, it was far too large; I have very narrow wrists, and even had the band been closed all the way, it would have hung on my hand like an extraordinarily heavy bangle. The row of amber cabochons itself was wider than the top of my wrist.
And so Wings created a version of the cuff for me: a shorter band, fashioned of lighter-gauge sterling silver that I would be able to adjust myself; outer surface chased with one of my favorite motifs, Eyes of Spirit, each edged with rays of light; inner surface with a series of symbols chosen expressly for me. Across the top, he arrayed three of the same round amber cabochons, the number a better proportion for my wrist, the “stones” themselves reflecting the same mysterious golden fire. It was not the first piece he made for me, and certainly nowhere near the last, but it is a favorite, one I still wear routinely.
The identity of the purchaser of the cuff pictured above is now lost to the mists of memory. Whomever it is carries a piece of the sunrise every day.
~ Aji
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owners.
