I was recently commissioned to make an earring and pendant set to be given as a present. I was left fairly free with the design so decided to use a technique called granulation as the basis for the set below.
The technique for making and attaching the silver balls is known as granulation. Small pieces of silver are melted into balls using a blowtorch. The balls (or granules) are then soldered onto the silver sheet (while trying to stop them moving and losing the design).
The pattern over the remainder of the items is achieved by using a punch multiple times (in this case a figure “2”). Small rings were soldered onto the top of each item for the attaching the ear hooks and chain. The pendant also has a link soldered into the ring.
The matt finish is the state as the items came out of the pickle (the hot acid solution used to remove oxide layers formed during soldering). Often the finished silver would be polished, but in this case matt seemed a more suitable finish.
Lavernock Glass and Jewellery 