Nest Bowl – Silver

Based on a bird’s nest, the main structure is composed of silver wire that has been forged, fabricated and hammered into the curved bowl shape. Thin, wispy, but strong and durable sterling silver wire was hand woven throughout to layer the intertwined texture of a bird’s nest. Due to use of metal wire this object is functional and sturdy enough to hold items.

Nest Bowl is a thoughtfully appropriate wedding gift, because the metaphor of building a nest and home together relates to marriage. It is also wonderful for Easter decor and functions beautifully for serving bread or crackers.

The concept was inspired by the “Nest” chapter from Gaston Bachelard’s book The Poetics of Space. Birds build nests by pressing their bodies in a circular motion against twigs and leaves woven together. The physical aspect and repetitive action of building a nest was mimicked in my bowl construction and design. My use of the nest concept references how one builds a home themselves through the selection of objects they include in their abode. Those objects tell a personal story and define the person, much as the bird’s body shapes the form of the nest.

Nest Bowl was one of the featured pieces for the Charleston City Gallery exhibition Interwoven: The Art of Indigo and Silver that included silversmith Kaminer Haislip, indigo textile artist Leigh Magar, photographer Jack Alterman, and curator Brandy Culp. Jack Alterman’s photograph of it was used for the exhibition press and it was highlighted in several publications.

Matte finish on main structure – High polish finish on woven wire