This unique jewelry is made by creating molds directly from botanical elements, similar to lost wax casting. While traditional lost-wax casting begins with a hand-carved wax model, Michael Michaud uses an actual leaf, branch, or flower instead of the wax model. A mold is created around the botanical element and as it is heated the plant matter burns away and leaves behind a beautifully detailed mold of itself.

The Blackberry Collection has been developed in collaboration with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

It was inspired by the V&A’s Green Dining Room, the world’s first museum café, and its fruit panels designed by the firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Co. in 1886. William Morris was a major influence on the Arts and Crafts Movement, which adopted many of his ideas on the value of hand craftsmanship and the maintenance of truth and honesty in the materials of production. His medieval-inspired designs are noted for their remarkable renderings of interweaving flora and fauna, especially fruits and birds. The designs demonstrate the depth of tones, richness in colors and graduation of tints.

• The leaves and twigs is cast in green hand patinated bronze.
• 24kt gold plated
• The collection is licensed by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England.
• Materials: The Blackberry Brooch is cast from bronze with hand-finished patina and 24k gold accents. Berries are black cast glass.
• Measures: 2-3"