MDW Kakwa Necklace

MDW Kakwa (porcupine) necklace represents the zigzag stitch in quill work.

I made the prototype for this necklace around five years ago. I caught myself folding a piece of thin wax into this form wondering why I had the urge to fold it in such a way. As if I had done this before but with a different medium. At that time I was experimenting with different waxes, educating myself of their properties and how to manipulate them. I took the folded piece and cast it into sterling silver. It didn’t come out perfect and I wasn’t too happy with it and put it aside. Every once in a while revisiting it.

It wasn’t until recently that when I looked at it I was like, “hey! this reminds me of quill work!” I took the knowledge that I gained in the last five years with wax, casting, soldering, polishing and  finished the necklace.

Each one is folded in wax, cast in sterling silver, soldered on a sterling silver necklace, oxidized and polished by hand. Making each necklace one of a kind.

The zig zagged quill measures 1″ long by 1/4″ wide.