Leland Blue Stag Beetle Pendant in Sterling Silver

This pendant has been constructed by hand entirely in sterling silver.  I've paired this incredible stag beetle casting with a beautiful rectangular specimen of Leland Blue.  Set in a serrated bezel, the stone is soldered to a double layer of hand stamped 21 gauge sterling silver sheet. The beetle is adorned with an elegant collar of ornate gallery wire. The pendant measures 2 1/2" tall and 3/4" wide. 18" oxidized sterling silver rolo chain with lobster clasp closure. The entire piece is oxidized with liver of sulphur & tumbled with a special medium for 12 hours to bring a soft matte finish to the metals, and also accentuate the highlights and bring dimension to the piece.

So what is "Leland Blue"?  It's not a natural stone at all, it is actually slag – a waste product from the smelting process used in the late 1800s by the Leland Lake Superior Iron Company.  For a more detailed explanation, read this article: http://www.lelandmi.com/about/leland-blue-stones.html