Not that everyone interprets Valentine's Day with heart shaped jewels, but it is the one time when caution can be thrown to the wind and we can all admit that we sort of like 'em. My mom's nickname was 'The Queen of Hearts' when I was a kid and her friends, mostly artists in the theatre, gave her unusual boxes and pictures with heart motifs that were peppered through our house. Since I was in charge of dusting I developed a fond closeness with each heart shaped dust catching object. One Valentines morning my mother was surprised to find our front yard filled with pink paper hearts hanging from our olive tree and I will never forget the look on her face as she walked out in her robe looking up in astonishment...hearts can be kind of wonderful.
I made this special silver and gold heart from two pieces of wax and then carved the Japanese inspired dragon fly and leaves. When it comes to hearts I like the ones that have the effect of the Tin Man's heart--completely tactile, magical and something you want to touch. With this piece I wanted to make something that looked dense but could hang from a thin chain and that is why I made it hollow. I have a French reliquary that I got in the Clignancourt flea market in Paris that I sometimes wear from a long thin chain and it has the same effect.
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