Form, Weather, Compile| Brooch

MATERIALS: Ebony, Australian Red Cedar, Purple Heart, Zebrano, Medicine Wood, Wenge, Ostrich Shell, Silver

Indian ebony is an incredibly dense hardwood which can vary in colour from dark brown to jet black. It is often used in musical instruments such as pianos,  guitars and other string instruments.

Australian red cedar is one of the most sort after native timbers for furniture and carving. The beautiful soft grain structure is similar to that of mahogany.

Purple heart comes from central America. As the timber is exposed to oxygen in the air it become a deep purple colour.

Wenge is a dense timber with a deep brown and almost black grain pattern. This beautiful timber comes from the central regions of Africa.

Medicine wood was traditionally used as a medicinal plant by the aborigines. This timber comes from  northern areas of Western Australia.

Zebrano or Zebra wood comes from West Africa and has an incredible stripped grain pattern.

The white material used in this brooch is Ostrich shell. I find the whitest part of the shell is found in the middle layer, which can be exposed by carefully sanding away the hard outer layer.