Bamboo Amethyst Necklace

A necklace of silver "bamboo" segments punctuated by circles holding prong-set amethyst marries a textured, naturalistic silver form to faceted stone. The bamboo motif gives the chain a jointed rhythm, and the amethyst circles break it at intervals.

Amethyst was a Spratling staple from his earliest celebrated jewelry (Morrill, p. 12), and prong-setting it within a worked silver structure keeps the stone forward and the metal naturalistic. The bamboo form reflects his habit of drawing silhouettes from nature.

The necklace is recorded in Penny Morrill's Maestros de Plata.