Posted 13 years ago
amandabuns
(22 items)
These coins had their fields cutout with a tiny jeweler's saw in order to turn them into wearable art. Plenty of people still do it today, although these pieces are old.
The necklace has a family connection- it belonged to my great-grandfather. Cutouts of the Columbian Expo commemorative coins were a popular souvenir at the Expo itself in 1893. My great grandfather was born in 1888, so he might not have been the original owner of the piece. I was told he used it as a watch fob. It has been bronzed as well, although this is wearing off in places.
The earrings are made from Mercury dimes and I bought them at an antique shop in Sandusky, OH. They were on clip earrings when I bought them and I changed them to hooks so I could wear them. I don't know that I would call them trench art, but they are certainly vintage.
At least the silver dimes were not bronzed. Reminds me of a joke,: Hear about the (fill in your ethnic choice) athlete who won an Olympic gold medal? He had it bronzed.
Well, I don't mind the bronzing really. Although I wish it wasn't wearing off!
And thanks for the loves, y'all. :)
The earrings amaze me. A steady hand to salvage the slender letters while cutting away the ground. : )
Thank you :) they are so light, you hardly feel them when you wear them! Additionally, the other cutout Colombian half dollars I have seen have left the letters in a ring rather than cutting around them.