Three absolutely phenomenal new works by Wings.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

All right, I've been variously hinting at and promising these for days: three absolutely phenomenal new works by Wings.

First up is the necklace you see above. He was inspired to create it by the thought of Valentine' Day looming, but the creative process works in its own time, so despite the hearts, we're past that holiday now. But it's much, much more than just that one symbol:

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

This is Hearts Aflutter, and I barely have words, it's so breathtaking. It's big and bold, 3" high by a little over 3" cross at the widest point, saw-cut, scalloped, and stamped freehand with antennae hand-split from the overlay body. The hearts are Rosarita, the glossy crimson fire of gold slag. The turquoise cabochons are natural American, likely from Nevada, but of unknown origin; they bear the colors of Number Eight, but the spiderweb matrix style more common to, say, Blue Moon. The bezels are hand-made, too. The beads? Solid sterling silver, rounds and saucers both, with crackling fire agate spheres and both rounds and heishi-style cut discs of high-grade natural American turquoise, likely Sleeping Beauty and/or Kingman. You can read its full description here. 

The next two works, earrings both, are not nearly so costly, but they contain far less silver and far fewer stones. Both pairs are concha earrings, the ones completed today in an oval shape:

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

This pair is called Solar Flares [didja know that solar flares are why we get to see the Northern Lights? now you do]. Oval conchas cut freehand and domed from the reverse in traditional fashion, with concentric ovals of equally freehand stampwork: at the edges, radiant arcs nested inside ach other, scores of strikes of the jeweler's hammer per earring, around a smaller inner oval of peaked radiant sunrises aimed inward, like respiration, like the dance of the flames in a flare. At each drop's center, the sun itself, in the form of a round domed cabochon of chatoyant tiger's eye; hold them to the light, and you'll see the bolt of golden flame in each one. You can read their full description here.

Finally, it's the pair I've actually been promising since the end of last week, and a personal favorite of my own:

Photo copyright Ai, 2024; all rights reserved.

This pair, called The Breath of the Spirit Bird, consists of two round conchas, again, saw-cut freehand and domed from the reverse. These are also stamped freehand in concentric arcs, but instead of firewheels, they're stamped in quadrants, the directions reversed between the two earrings. It creates the look of a Phoenix's rising wings on one, the breath of life in the form of clod and moon and aurora on the other. Tiny stars sit at th eFour Sacred Directions, and at the center, those gray moonstones . . . they create something so hauntingly beautiful, it's hard to find words. You can read their description here.

As always, Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We're a month and a half into this new calendar year and facing complications and costs carried over from the end of last year, which means that we really, REALLY need to make consistent sales, so shares are very much needed and much appreciated. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.