Reliquary is produced from copper, brass, and a bone from a small dog (no, I didn't kill it. It was already dead and only the complete skeleton was left.) The piece is roughly 2.25 inches long, 1 inch wide, and half and inch deep. I have always been fascinated with older unique pieces of jewelry with uncommon themes or designs. I tend to stop and look at the ones that seem to have a story to tell.

That is what I try to put into most of my pendant designs. Each one has an almost inherant history and story to tell.

Hopefully this one is successful at that. The idea was to make the bone apear special, and have some type of value. It is protected from its surroundings by a hard coffin shell. The lid of the coffin allows viewing of the inner passenger to those who look closer. The lid is also hindged and opens up to reveal the chains that keep the bone in place. The whole thing (minus the bone) was Patinated black. I went back with a brass brush to soften the finish, and used a polishing wheel to wear down the edges. The idea was a worn piece that has been around for a long time.

Although the piece looks completed, it is far from such. Due to some unforseen design flaws I am going to have to take it back apart and redo both the chains and bindings that hold the bone in the center.