Bottlenose Dolphin Group #2, Telstra Corporation Permanent Collection

BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIIN GROUP #2

TELSTRA CORPORATION PERMANENT COLLECTION
panel 440mm x 330mm x 16g copper
999 silver cloisonne/repousse/camieu enamel

Firstly, a layer of highfiring white enamel was applied to the front of the copper base and fired. Next, a heavy layer of counter-enamel was applied to the back and the piece was again fired. 999 fine (pure) silver foil was applied to the front, dusted with various transparent and opaque enamels and the panel again fired. Initial background details were begun using a technique involving the build-up of various enamel colours prior to firing; in this modification of a traditional technique the buildup is exaggerated and the raised areas collapse upon themselves in the molten condition, giving a raised, three-dimensional appearance.

The resulting face surface was ground flat; the fish and kelp were formed from 0.2mm 999 fine silver sheet, embossed and engraved in the repousse fashion to impart dimensionality, and enamelled into/onto the face under a layer of transparent glasses, using a technique developed by the artist. Some preparatory seafloor and distance detail was built up at this stage to a height of about 2mm above the face (in the previously-described modification of the traditional camieu technique) and the piece refired.

The fired surface was lapped, middle ground repousse silver fish added, background and middlegound dolphin formed from 0.1 x 1mm 999 silver wire, laid out in position and wet inlaid with enamels. The operations were repeated to a total of 20+ firings, with further animals and kelp being added and details of shading, anatomy, and perspective being refined after each firing until the effect was satisfactory. The piece was reground between visits to the kiln, and the surface of the finished panel was hand-lapped optically flat with graded diamond hones, machine-polished to a mirror finish, and framed.