Mermaid & Child "Follow Me" Necklace in Sterling Silver

This charming fantasy jewelry necklace tells of the wonders of the ocean that are ready to be explored, with a little guidance. An adult Mermaid (mother / teacher) is leading the way, supporting the child (daughter / student) with her tail as they begin their journey to see all their aquatic world has to offer.

I started by creating a detailed pencil drawing to refine my idea and layout the proportion of the piece. The next step was to sculpt everything in wax, this was a very time and labor intensive process; including applying one scale at a time on both of the mermaids. While great attention was given to such details, I also took great care to ensure the musculature was accurate and the overall design pleasing. When sculpting was complete it was cast using the lost wax method in sterling silver. A patina was applied to give some areas a darker finish than others, providing for contrast and interest. This was followed by hand polishing and an application of Renaissance Wax to protect the finish and guard against tarnish.

The central section of the necklace containing the two mermaids is 1 7/8 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches tall. The necklace is adjustable from 16-20 inches in lengths.