SCULPTURAL FACES

The process (shown via photos and video) of creating a three layered opal wedge inserted into an unfinished agate face that I had started some years ago (the back of the agate face unfinished). I made the decision to add some art and bling to the face with this “artistic” eye with hand picked side-flash black crystal opal sandwiched in between good red/orange semicrystal gem opal ….

 

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The initial three piece eye didn’t work out so three more small pieces (better) were selected and flattened down, two glued and shaped with the centre as a wedge then the third snall slice added and glued overlapping….then with the whole combination shaped down on a fine diamond wheel as a wedge to fit the sharp acute angle eye groove ( filed out with a fine diamond file with an acute angle). This wedge as seen is small but about three times too long as needed…

It was glued in with strong epoxy and then shaped down on a fine hard diamond wheel then novas used and ceriun oxide polished…the unfinished back of the agate lady was at this stage also sanded down and polished….

All the work done on the face (previously) and currently (with the exception of the diamond file used) was done on my 6″ wheel lapidary machine, that I had since 1990.

However, I will have to use a dremmil and burrs or hand sand and polish, to finish the area of the mouth and under the chin as these area are impossible to safely reach using the 6″ wheels…

Then, I’ll be thinking about maybe setting the agate lady in an appropriate jewellery design.

In my mind initially, (and I can’t put my finger on why?) I had the idea that this face represented a particularly beautiful lady of Japanese origin….perhaps a high born noble woman or consort or a high class geisha…???