Octopus Garden

with design notes by the artist

All Images by blinkPHOTO. 

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“Octopus Garden" was inspired by the 200 gallon salt water reef tank in the artist's studio.

"My initial research into octopuses indicated that they guard their eggs quite fiercely and are good mothers. This inspired a scene depicted by the bronze marine garden box, which is encrusted with sea life."  
                                                                            -Jeri Kiel

The fine silver octopus sits on the lid of the box, guarding her treasures.

Lifting the octopus off the box reveals a concave depression - a nest - which holds the octopus’ black pearl eggs.

"My goal was for the box to look like a rough rock encrusted with coral and sea life, in contrast to the graceful fluidity of the octopus.

Using my salt water reef as a living model, I made coral, fans, sea squirts, tube worms, star fish, and shells out of BronzClay™ and cubic zirconium (manmade gemstones).

The czs were used in a non-conventional manner; upside down, sideways, and as color. Basically in any manner that would achieve the effect I wanted."

When the lid of the box is removed, one discovers a black pearl necklace featuring a forward facing, fine silver clasp/bail combination and matching earrings. The necklace bail is shaped in the form of a hook. If the wearer chooses, the octopus can be suspended from the hook by her eighth tentacle.

The fine silver octopus was entirely hand sculpted using ArtClay 650 Slow Dry metal clay. I made use of photographs to make my sculpture more accurate, and learned that octopuses have eyes like goats. They can be vibrantly colored, though I chose to highlight the silver instead. All the textures and features on the octopus were created by me— no commercial molds or findings were used.

My octopus is holding 7 black peacock pearls in her cubic zirconium embellished tentacles. Her true-to-life elongated skull is encrusted with tiny, high grade czs meant to showcase a pavé style within the metal clay medium. Her tentacles were sculpted, attached individually, and contoured to fit her body.

The matching earrings are tentacles holding black pearls, suspended from hand-made ear wires. Their large, marquise cut, 16x8mm clear czs represent sparkly water.

The 15” black pearl necklace can be worn alone, or with the silver octopus pendant suspended from it. To continue the design theme, the front facing fine silver clasp is made of octopus tentacles encrusted with clear czs. They embrace a marquise cut cz and grasp 3 black peacock pearls. The hook clasp on one side of the necklace simply slides thru a hidden opening under the tentacles, holding the neck piece closed. The clasp doubles as a bail that (optionally) hooks the octopus by her eighth tentacle.