Hallmarked Large Statement Silver Oak leaf earrings - created by coating real leaves in layers of silver

A pair of show stopping beautiful silver oak leaf earrings, made using real oak leaves collected from a place we call the "secret garden"  up in an old quarry on the moor near home.

These are large, statement earrings - hallmarked at the London Assay Office.

Approximate sizes:

• Length ? cm (to be added) p see photo for scale for now!
• Width ? cm

They hang from sterling silver ear wires and are presented in a gift box.

Esther Priestley gift boxes - are made from jewellery boxes are made from FSC®-certified cardboard and water-based glue and the foam insert uses Tall oil – a by-product extracted from tree pulp during paper production, making them an truly eco-friendly design.

Inspiration : I love oak trees and there are lots around here, including a beautiful one in the field opposite our house.  From the kitchen window we can watch this throughout the seasons, as its leaves grow and create a gorgeous canopy in Spring and then change colour and drop in the Autumn.  The branches create a haven for wildlife - jays, magpies, crows and squirrels have all been busy harvesting the acorns and a number of tiny little trees are growing nearby, no doubt an off-spring of this very tree.

The process: These oak leaves have been collected on local walks and whilst they were still freshly picked I coated them with their first layer of silver clay.  Then over a process of several weeks I added layers - up to about 9 in total.  The delicate clay shapes then went into my kiln, where the actual leaf itself burns away, leavign behind the imprint in silver.