White Magnolia Flower Jewelry Holder, Ceramic Dish with Gold Accent
As one of the oldest flowering plants on Earth, Magnolia's have an ancient lineage which has long been linked to the moon and to Venus, to feminine energy, and to endurance. Throughout time, Magnolia flowers represent beauty, grace, and purity. Magnolias are especially associated with the combination of strength and femininity - their form which is both strong and soft at the same time. Here I add a beautiful mother-of-pearl iridescence to the white petals of the magnolia, to emphasize their link to the moon and their inner luminous beauty.
This ceramic dish is made from smooth porcelain-like stoneware clay, dried, bisque fired, glazed, and high-fired once more at approximately 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. The leaves and center cone are imprinted from a dwarf magnolia, and I carve the individual petals by hand.
I add both Mother-of-Pearl and real gold to this dish. The Mother-of-Pearl gives a beautiful antique-feeling iridescence to the dish - tiny rainbows of shimmer on the white petals at different angles. Real 22kt gold overglaze is applied to the dish and the rim in a special process, and the dish is fired a third time to bond the gold to the piece. It's all a labor intensive process that gives a special finishing touch.
This jewelry holder is handmade from start to finish, entirely by me in my California studio. Each piece is a labor of love that I hope will bring light and joy into your home.
Measurements:
Approximately 5 inches wide
Slight variations and organic shapes in handcrafted ceramics are what make them perfectly unique pieces of art. Mother-of-Pearl has a lot of variation in the finished surface - please look at the photos where I have tried to capture the result.