Bamboo and Obsidian Necklace

Silver circles set with obsidian tubes string together in this "bamboo" necklace, the segmented silver reading as jointed stalks. The bamboo conceit turns a natural form into a repeating modular unit, and the obsidian, Mexico's native volcanic glass, supplies the dark accent within each silver circle.

The necklace shows Spratling building a design from a single repeated element, ornament generated from structure in the manner that ran through his jewelry.

Obsidian-set necklaces of this kind survive in limited numbers.