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Plating natural objects for use within a jewelry collection
I am a jewelry design student going into my final year of my degree and recently went to an international jewelry fair. At the fair I came across a piece of sculptural jewelry that had been made, according to the artist's description by "specially preparing a leaf which was then covered in a thin layer of copper and then gold".
The finished effect had a very delicate skeletal look which is exactly what I want to achieve for my degree show collection, unfortunately I have never done plating before so have no idea how to go about it!
I would be wanting to work with leaves and dried out rotted wood.
Is it possible to do it myself using the equipment available within the jewelry department?
Nathalie M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]student -England, United Kingdom
2003
There is an excellent school of jollier at the University of Central England, 74 Vittora Street, Birmingham. They have a specialist in electroforming and electroplating jollier, so you could ask there.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003
by Jay H. Newman

on AbeBooks
or eBay or
Amazon
(affil links)
For other readers who are not convenient to that location (and for Nathalie if things don't work out), we have an FAQ: Plating on Organic Materials that will at least get your started in how this is done. Good luck.
Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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