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Art Clay Silver box style pendant

Learn how to construct a boxed pendant and add embellishment.
By Lesley Messam

Lesley is a senior Art Clay instructor. She has been teaching for a few years and has her own studio at her home in Chichester where she teaches Silver Art clay, beginners silver smithing, beginners beading and wirework on a regular basis. In this project Lesley demonstrates how to construct a boxed pendant, with a back, front and inside walls that are textured and then further embellished.

This pendant is classic in size but given a dramatic finish as the embellishment gives it a more complex look. To keep the focus on the pendant, link it to a Sterling silver chain. It would certainly enhance a black cocktail dress and would look fab against bronzed skin when worn with a silk embroidered and beaded bustier for evening wear.

Tools & Materials

  • 25g Art clay
  • Syringe with a green nozzle
  • Square cookie cutter or tissue blade
  • Paste
  • 1mm Spacers
  • 4 x playing cards
  • Roller, Badger Balm
  • Pot of water, small circle cutter
  • Craft knife
  • Work surface
  • Straw, paint brush
  • Rubber block
  • Set of sanding pads
  • Files
  • Blow torch
  • Firing block
  • Brass brush
  • Texture sheet of your choice
  • Gloves
  • Silver cloth, silver polish

Step 1

Start by rolling out the clay with two playing cards under each 1mm spacer. Once your clay is rolled out remove the cards and pick the clay up. Then place the texture sheet on your tile and the clay on the texture sheet and then the spacers, now roll for the perfect texture every time.

Step 2

You will need to use your cookie cutter or a tissue blade. This all depends on the size or shape you wish to make. Cut a rectangle shape, my sample measures 2” by 1.12”. Once you have cut one lay it on the rolled out clay and cut around the first which will give two matching pieces. Dry them thoroughly.

Step 3

Roll the remaining clay into a sausage. Roll your clay and texture as before in step one. Use your tissue blade to cut the first side section for the inner wall of your boxed pendant, cut them shorter then the front panel. Lay the first on top of the rolled out clay and cut out the other side. Take a small straw while the clay is on top of the other panel and cut the holes for the chain to go through. Put these to one side to dry and continue making the top and bottom panel in the same way.

Step 4

Make sure all of your sections are completely dry. Give them a really good sanding using the sanding pads. Start with 180 grit course and work down the grades (220 grit medium, 280 grit fine). Sand all of the pieces on your rubber block as this will give you the angles and straight edges. Keep checking it against its opposite piece to keep them the same size. Take a round needle file and clean the chain holes.

Step 5

Once you are happy with your sanded section you can start to put the box together. To do this you will use an Art clay syringe with a green nozzle. Take a side and a top section and syringe along the edges that will meet (this is an overlap joint). Do the same to the other two pieces then leave them to dry. Now you can put the two parts together just the same as before, dry again. At this point you need to add more syringe and paste to strengthen the inner wall of the box. Dry again and then sand it thoroughly.

Step 6

You are now ready to add the top and the back. Use the syringe to draw a line all the way around the centre of the box section. Place the front on and adjust accordingly. Do the same to the back panel and gently squeeze together. Paste back in any clay that squeezes out and dry. Add more syringe and paste to make the joints strong and neaten. Allow it to dry and then sand.

Step 7

To make the daisy, form tear shapes and gently flatten them with an acrylic sheet. Make 5 in total. For the flower centre, roll a small amount of clay into a half circle and flatten it. To make the stalk, shape some clay into a sausage then use the acrylic to make a long thin sausage by moving the sheet back and forth then flatten it. Now paste them onto the pendant. Make a different flower for the other side so your pendant is reversible.

Step 8

Now you have a boxed style pendant, you will need to smarten the holes where the chain goes through. To do this, roll the clay again with no cards just spacers and cut the two small circles. Use the straw to cut the centre of the circles then allow them to dry. Once dry, give them a good sanding and add paste onto the holes in the pendant.

Step 9

At this point your pendant should be completely dry. Now you need to sand all the parts you have just added. When you are completely happy that all the marks are out then you can fire with a blowtorch on a firing brick as shown, or in a kiln. Blow torch for 6 minutes then allow it to cool or kiln fire at 800°c for 30 minutes.

Step 10

Start with a brass brush and scrub until you have revealed all the silver. You will need to go down the grades of sanding pads starting with 180. The more you sand the better the finish so move to the 220 then 280. Take a silver cloth loaded with silver polish and give your pendant a good hard rub.

Step 11

The pendant should be highly polished now. To make it come alive you need to patina it. Make up a weak solution of liver of sulphur and dip the pendant in until you reach the desired colour. Ensure that you wear gloves.

Step 12

Give the pendent a rinse in water and dry it. Take a silver cloth loaded with silver polish and give a final clean. Thread a chain on or a piece of ribbon and tie in a bow

fashion tips

This chunky funky pendant looks great dressed up or down, wear it with jeans a simple casual top, or a minimal evening dress. Thread it onto a chain to keep the look clean and uncluttered. Wear it as a classy evening accessory with a velvet embroidered gown. As an investment piece, store seperately in a soft jewellery pouch to prevent scratching

Gold swallow brooch £5 Accessorize

Daphne maxi dress £85 Long Tall Sally

Silver crystal heart clutch £45 Accessorize