For Elements I fixed on panthers, leopards and reliquaries.  I’ve been going to the Metropolitan Museum since I was 3 years old and always remembered the reliquaries on the first floor. I love the idea of looking into their miniature protected and preserved worlds.

We hand carved 2 pieces of Lucite to protect the reliquary and polished it to transparency.  Inside is a gunmetal and crystal encrusted panther resting on a tree. The piece is 3d so it can be viewed from all sides, adding to the illusion of a microcosm captured in glass.

The panther necklace and bracelets have more of a 1920′s feel.  I wanted the panther to be leaning off the bracelet from both sides to really give the sense of motion.

On the panther necklace I used red tigers eye,  and the leopard is running down the necklace chasing a large faceted topaz tear.