We
like our customers to be aware of the exceptional
craftsmanship that goes into the production our our jewelry.
These facts
will answer many of your questions.
All
of the jewelry offered by Silver Crane Sterling is manufactured
in Holland and is made from
sterling silver that is stamped .925 (925/1000 parts pure
silver). This is the European equivalent of the "Sterling" stamp
in the United States.
Although
some of our jewelry has contemporary designs, the majority of
Silver Crane Sterling is based on the styles of Victorian, Art
Noveau and Art Deco periods.
The Victorian Period started
in 1836 and lasted until Queen Victoria's death in 1901.
Queen Victoria loved her husband
and children and this mood is reflected by the jewelry of
the time with its romantic and sentimental images.
Flowers, birds, bows and hearts are prevalent Victorian designs.
Most of the collection featured in this Silver Crane Sterling
website focuses on the Victorian Period.
The Art Nouveau Period started
in 1890 and lasted until 1905. This period marked a revival
in the decorative arts, its styling being evocative
of nature through its use of sinuous lines and organic shapes.
These pieces contain small figures such as cupids or fairies
or floral and fauna motifs. The majority of the Art Noveau
is sand-blasted, which is evidenced by the pieces with a
duller or different color finish.
Although
the Art
Deco Movement officially began
in 1925, its source goes back to the period just after
1905 with a reaction against the curvilinearity
of Art Noveau. Art Deco design is more abstract and
geometrical. The jewelry pieces representing this period
often contain black, resin-based enamel and stones such
as Swarovski
Crystal. These finest of rhinestones are faceted like
diamonds.
Our
Manufacturing Process — Lost-Wax
Casting
Much of our jewelry is made
from original antique molds— first-generation
reproductions, not copies.
This explains their fine detail. We use the process
of lost-wax casting. First, a rubber mold
is created in the image of an original; wax is then injected
into the rubber,
creating forms that are joined together in a tree-like structure.
This "tree" is placed into a gypsum-filled cylinder
and baked so that the wax melts away.
Silver is
then poured into the gypsum form, which is rotated
with
great force so the metal fills all the crevices. After hardening,
the mold is shattered leaving a silver "tree" from which
the individual pieces are cut and finished by hand.
Thank you for your interest,
SILVER CRANE STERLING
