Many years ago when I first tried using  an acetylene torch, I spent the day torching the daylights out of some brass that I had previously etched with various patterns.  The results of all this labour were lots of horrid looking little pieces of contorted black metal that didn’t turn out quite as I’d envisioned…

This process is called reticulation-the brass is heated to it’s melting point and then all kinds of magic happens-if you are looking for the rugged/molten look.  Unfortunately toxic fumes can also be given off, a fact I learned about long after.  The ugly “bits” were then stored away, to be long forgotten until 2017.

For whatever reason, I pulled some of these pieces out, in search of some “texture”.  I certainly had it in spades with this collection!  Since I’d risked life and limb to make the darn things, seemed only fitting to do something with them.  I had always been stumped with exactly how to use them-but as my work evolved, so did the opportunities to fit them into my designs.  Here is the first piece I used some of the brass in, just love all the mountains, valleys and waves that were created during the torching process:

I was on a roll, and next came a set of earrings with garnet beads, and another pendant, featuring a beautiful Almandine Garnet-a stone I just adore and use frequently in my work.

Reticulated Brass with Garnets

Almandine Garnet Cabochon

Another set of earrings whose design was dictated by the shape of the melted pieces – they remind me of a Madonna…paired with black heishi beads, I am happy with these ones!

I have more pieces done, awaiting their cabochons..will post when complete.  Would love to hear what you think about this process!

Carol