Native American Argentium Silver 18K Seahorse Earrings Shawnee Artist Heidi Bigknife

$415.00

Heidi BigKnife Seahorse Earrings

These earrings are hammered in such a way that their surface resembles the skin of seahorses. The soft matte finish helps the resemblance to these charming marine animals.

The earrings are made from argentium, an alloy that contains 92.5% silver (same as sterling silver) but is highly tarnish resistant, to preempt the need to polish.

Seahorses are 1 7/16″ high; earrings are approximately 2 1/4″ high including the 18K gold ear wires.

Out of stock

Artist:

Heidi BigKnife Seahorse Earrings

These earrings are hammered in such a way that their surface resembles the skin of seahorses. The soft matte finish helps the resemblance to these charming marine animals.

The earrings are made from argentium, an alloy that contains 92.5% silver (same as sterling silver) but is highly tarnish resistant, to preempt the need to polish.

Seahorses are 1 7/16″ high; earrings are approximately 2 1/4″ high including the 18K gold ear wires.

See Heidi BigKnife’s work here.

Artist’s Statement:

“Conceptualizing and creating artwork connects me to many things – the past and a connection to ancestors; self-identity; beauty and simplicity; my voice – a voice to speak about these connections and to address society at large.

In all my work I enjoy exploring the qualities that metal can offer both conceptually and aesthetically. Metal is an excellent conductor and I feel that this extends to conducting ideas through its markings and scars – a graphic record of ‘history’. Reticulation, stamping, raising, casting, and patination all add to the inherent beauty of the metal surface.

My most recent series is a running commentary on the politics of this new century – a way for me to express outrage, pose questions, and convey concerns about what is going on in the United States and how it affects Americans and the world. By combining humor, serious subject matter and text I want to provoke and encourage a reaction to issues that I feel demand not only a rational response but also a response from the heart. It is my belief that our lives, which include current events, shape us mentally, spiritually and physically. My process in this series is to express a concept in text, fabric, stones and imagery and then enclose these materials in small frames. As the viewer comes in closer to see the details of each piece s/he becomes involved in the process of interpretation.

The “Genetic Memory” series has grown out of the connections I feel with the history of the Shawnee and my family. I use copper in the series to reference the mound builder cultures and the abundance of copper in the Great Lakes area – the cultures and geography related historically to the Shawnee. The horsehair signifies both the importance of the horse to the Shawnee and human hair – hair that carries our DNA, our genetic memory. I describe the figurative shapes I use in this series as “dresses” – having a feminine connotation, but others see them as “tunics” – masculine representations.

I am also inspired by language, history, texture, kinetics, beauty, and nature. I often embellish my pieces with freshwater pearls and other natural stones and beads such as turquoise, shell, and moonstone – materials that speak to me of earth and water. These ideas guide me in creating jewelry that I hope is entirely unique.”

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Weight 0.5 lbs
Dimensions 8 × 8 × 4 in
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