Handcrafted, steam bent earrings are free form. The continuous flow of wood honors its natural properties and beauty.
Made with Sassafras Wood and Brass.
Earrings require occasional conditioning. For longevity and shine, rub a small amount of conditioner over the surface whenever your jewelry looks or feels dry.
Conditioner included.
From the Artist
My work explores traditional steam bending methods in non-traditional ways. I have eliminated both the steam box and the jig and am "free-form" bending compressed wood as I pass it through a stream of steam. The wood responds to the heat and moisture, arching and curling as tension is released and lignins soften. I manipulate the wood, pushing it until it wants to give, using my own body to hold it in tension while it cools and sets. I am in an exciting place with my material practice, one where wood no longer feels constrained as I have learned to follow rather than lead with it.
Rainy Lehrman is an American Designer and Sculptor. Her work draws inspiration from traditional crafts techniques to inform the relationship between the human-made and the natural world. Micro-bending, Free-form Bending and Coopered Tapered Stem-Bent Laminations are where her current interests.
