Lucas Pointon | Coffin Study

Artist: Lucas Pointon, WisconsinMaterials: sterling silver, bronzeSize: 8 Artist Statement: This "coffin study" takes the form of a ring, and hosts a once living cockroach within its tomb. The original insect was found dead within the halls of the building I teach at. In preparation for casting, I dipped the insect in shellac, invested the model, and proceeded with the lost wax casting process. Once the cockroach was prepared and casted into solid sterling silver, I could begin building the ring around the object. The entire ring is formed and fabricated from bronze and sterling silver sheet with functional 7 knuckles hinge and catch. The roof of the coffin was etched using ferric chloride acid. Artist Bio: A reliquary ring demands a relic, therefore in some cases this becomes a trace of the animal in the form of a cast insect, or in this instance, a cockroach. However, the irony is that the beauty of the reliquary demands the same attention as the relic and vice versa. The casted silv