Cherry Blossom Jewelry Dish, Ceramic with Gold Accent

In the spring, cherry blossom branches are covered in small pink flowers, these iconic flowers symbolizing hope and renewal. In this dish, I use pigments and hand carving to create a miniature version of cherry blossom branches. This sparking cherry blossom ceramic piece is made from smooth porcelain-like stoneware clay, dried, bisque fired, glazed, and kiln-fired once more at approximately 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. The cherry blossom "flowers" are carefully handpainted one at a time to create intricate detail.  The glaze is a glossy soft clear, warm white. Real 22kt gold overglaze is applied to the rim in a special process as well as to the pink flowers along the branch, and the dish is fired a third time to bond the gold to the piece. There are hundreds of tiny gold dots adding sparkle to this miniature cherry branch. It's a labor intensive process that gives a special finishing touch a magical sparkle covering the entire piece.  This jewelry holder is handmade from start to finish, e