Patina: The Coloring of Metal

Vertigris, taken from the French word for "green", marks the passage of time. The allure of warm, verdigris patinas, glowing from old copper roofs and gutters on cathedrals, is a time machine to the past. The intense blue-green of prized Chinese objects buried for millennia, takes us back to an era when objects truly held magic. The incredible weathered green of the 300 BC bronze Iguvine Tables, floating on a page in National Geographic, explaining ancient purification rituals performed by the warriors after a battle, were the inspiration to recreate this luscious color in my jewelry.

Historically, patinas are combinations of chemicals that create corrosion on a copper alloy, as a result of natural or artificial oxidation. Heat combined with atmosphere, alter the surface quality of copper, brass, or bronze. The result is unpredictable, but the patinaed piece can then be pigmented with other materials to achieve a desired effect.

Ritual Shield Brooch is etched copper, riveted to a sterling backing. All piercing, forming, attaching must be done before applying the patina surface. The copper can be sandblasted or lightly sanded to create a "tooth" on the metal, then scotchbright and a swab with alcohol creates an absolutely clean surface.

Many commercially made patinas are available at hardware and craft stores. A "copper topper" can also be used as a first step, to create a patina on nearly any paintable surface. Place the piece on a heating tray, to provide an even warmth. Paint on the first layer of either green or blue-green patina, and allow to air dry. A second coat may be applied for a deeper, saturated hue. When cool, the piece can then be worked with acrylic or oil paints, colored inks, dyes, mica powders, metallic leaf, or Prismacolor pencils, to obtain a rich depth of color. Finally, the pigment is set with either 7 light coats of spray lacquer applied an hour apart, or paste wax, or acrylic medium. Each provides a different effect, evoking the magic of ages past.