Blue Skies, Wild Pony--Pony Medallion Necklace

by Luann Udell
(Keene NH)

My polymer work is inspired by ancient and prehistoric art.

I want the look of jewelry created with talismans and elements gathered from many distant places and times--a true collector's piece, eclectic yet elegant.

This piece is one of my favorites.

This unusual necklace features my handmade faux ivory pendant with a hand-etched and painted image of a prehistoric horse from the Lascaux Cave paintings in France.

Polymer clay people always ask if I used a transfer technique to create the horse image. Nope. First I sand the medallion. Then I actually stippled the image with needle tools, tiny stiff brushes and paint. When the paint is dry, I buff it again.

I used a combination of different kinds of beads. Real trade beads (antique glass beads made in Venice and Bohemia and traded throughout Asia, Africa and the American West); my own handmade trade bead (the brown tubular bead with "eyes"), my own faux amazonite beads, and real Chinese turquoise and pearls.

The beautiful pale aqua segmented beads are vintage versions of antique Czech glass trade beads, probably from the 70's or 80's. Known as "snake vertebrate" beads, they interlock, giving the necklace wonderful flex.

I love the mix of antiquity (trade beads, prehistoric imagery) and modern media (polymer clay), the glossy glass beads and the natural leather cord, simple connectors made from leather loops and more complex beaded loops.

Luann Udell
Luann Udell - fiber, polymer, mixed media
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