Ajijaakwe: As Promised, Five New Works by Wings

Photo copyright Wings, 2021;
all rights reserved.

As promised, five new works by Wings, and they are extraordinary.

Three are Warrior Woman pins that have actually been complete for a while, but I didn't know it; I was waiting for him to set the stones, and when he finally did it, he put them in the case and forgot to let me know. Given the chaos of recent weeks, it's not a big surprise that I didn't know, but now that I do, they're posted. They'll appear near the end of this post. First, though, we have two new cuff bracelets, and when I say they are masterworks, I'm not exaggerating even a little bit. The first, though, is in a class entirely by itself; it's the one shown above, so let's get to it.

This one is called Migratory Paths, and it features an array of silversmithing techniques, from freehand cutwork and scorework to deep and even stamping to the tune of hundreds of individual strikes of the jeweler's hammer; it also includes gemwork and ingot molding. The stone is old Kingman turquoise; the sunbursts are hand-wrought ingot. The band is heavy 16-gauge sterling silver, and the wings flutter free, high above the band. You can read the full description here; Butterfly knows that winter is coming, and she's already looking for her home.

Next up, the other bracelet:

The second cuff is also extraordinary, if wrought in a simpler style than the one above. This one is called Following the Sun, and it's likewise formed of heavy 16-gauge sterling silver, centered by a gradient of repoussé sunburst focals flanked by beautifully deep traditional imagery, the band bordered by hand-stamped radiant arcs and the edges of the band scalloped freehand using a jeweler's hand-saw with a filament-thin blade. You can read the full description here. This one also needs to find its home; it's positively glowing, and is simply stunning on the wrist.

Now, the pins:

First up is one that really fits with the current season here. This is called Sun In Flower, and it's what the sky looks like at dawn, and the earth throughout the rest of the day right now. Sterling silver, cut freehand, with a bright repoussé heart above a dress adorned with Eyes of Spirit formed of paired lines of clouds with radiant suns emergent; medicine patterns on her crescent moon; a braided sterling silver wire serpent over her left shoulder; and a glowing amber cabochon in her right hand. You can read the full description here.

The theme for the stones is one along the autumn-light spectrum this time — gold, red, brown. The second pin holds the red:

This one is called The Fire At the Storm's Heart, and it refers both to literal fire and the flames of the spirit. She, too, has a brave repoussé heart above a dress accented with conjoined thunderhead symbols that, together, form a tribute to the winds and the sacred directions. More hearts trace the crescent moon in her left hand; the serpent over her right shoulder is, once more, formed of braided sterling silver wire; and the jewel in her right hand is carnelian, fiery and blood-red. You can red the full description here.

Last, but not remotely least, we get to the earth tones of fall:

This one is called A Medicine of Earth and Sky, and it's a reference both to stampwork and to stone. She, too, manifests a bold repoussé heart rising above a dress stamped with paired eagle-feather fans, conjoined into their own giant sunburst. In her left hand, the crescent moon holds bear's pawprints, powerful protection and medicine symbols; the serpent over her right shoulder is formed of silver hand-milled in a the form of the sunflowers that dot the land now; and the jewel in her right hand is a gloriously chatoyant tiger's eye, as brown as the earth of the heads of the sunflowers, as glowing as the light of the setting sun. You can read the full description here.

Wings's main page is here. You can order any of these masterworks via the site's Contact form. And as I've said, we URGENTLY need to make consistent sales now: to make it through September and cover all the coming new medical costs and other costs (taxes, weatherization, relatives with medical emergencies, etc.), plus the rest of this terrible second pandemic-ridden year (one that has already been bitter indeed for our communities), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2021; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Ajijaakwe

Sunday, September 5, 2021

As Promised, Five New Works by Wings

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