Rustic Spirals

The last task for these earrings was to design shepards hooks. I wanted to use something strong that would make a statement as they were for an exhibition so I decided to use the forged spiral shepards hooks that I made for the shwe-shwe earrings, but I wanted them to have a rougher more rustic appeal. Once I tapered either side of the bar I forged it slightly with the least caution possible and then bent it into a spiral shape, also quite carelessly so it deliberately had sharp curves and kinks in the metal to mimic the zigzag effect of the Baobab's branches. Again with the shepards hooks I wanted to get an overall handmade feel to match the rustic Baobab elements.