Developing a Lace Necklace

This post focuses on the growth of the piece on the body and the changes needed to enhance the piece to its full potential. The piece began looking incomplete, although the pieces of lace were increasing. There seemed to lack a sense of variety. When I began working with lace I always envisaged it in gold. Taking this thought further I plated a 15 point lace piece to give me an idea on whether adding colour to the piece will enhance the lace or not.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Gold Plated 15 Point Lace Component. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

The gold plated lace enhanced its aesthetic beauty which I intended on using. Relating the use of gold in the piece also increases the value and quality which is an important factor in fine jewellery.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Components on Bodice. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

After placing the gold lace with the other lace pieces the piece remained incomplete. I then started creating a 3 dimensional ball with the 15 point lace in order to give more volume to the piece.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. 15 Point Lace Component in a ball. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

The white background of the bodice in comparison to the silver of the lace faded into each other. I then covered the bodice in a black cloth so that when the pieces were placed back onto it, you are able to see it much better.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Experimental Lace Components on Black background. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

I then began arranging the components allowing for areas to be highly concentrated and others simpler.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Components forming a necklace. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

Once all the components were placed on the bodice, the solid aspect of the flowers were not doing it justice. In order for the piece to stand out and not be lost in the transparent appeal of the lace, back plates of varying sizes were needed to provide a solid contrast. It is because of these contrasts that make lace beautiful.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. 15 Point Lace with plain disc. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace With Discs in Necklace. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

After the discs were placed the piece took on a completed look. The contrasting effects of the discs brought out the lace. After having all the components, I began playing around with the best possible ways in which I could create the piece. Focusing on complicated areas and simple areas.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Necklace - Attempt 1. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

This is the first attempt of arranging the necklace. It appeared to be misplaced and did not flow well.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Necklace - Attempt 2. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

The second attempt became more structure, focusing on concentrated and simplistic areas.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Necklace - Attempt 3. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

The third attempt focused on aligning the concentrated area with the open lace pieces and then slowly declining to the closed off lace pieces.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Necklace - Attempt 4. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

The last attempt seemed to work well. The open lace pieces formed the base as discussed earlier and the concentrated complicated pieces went after the base pieces.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Necklace - Attempt 4 - Side view. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

This is the side view to distinguish the height of the piece.

Mariambibi Khan. 2015. Lace Necklace - Attempt 4 Final. Fine Silver & Sterling Silver.

This is the working piece of the final necklace. After the structure of the piece was complete, I determined the flow of the gold plated lace to contrast and enhance the necklace. The completed piece will be seen in the next post.