Christen Coomer | Awesome Fashion Boy

Artist:  Christen Coomer

Materials: Mokume-Gane, Silver, Copper, Enamel

Dimensions: Locket 1 1/2"x1 1/4"; chain 24"

Origin of featured materials: Shining Wave Metals / Phillip Baldwin

Story behind the piece:  This locket contains a reproduction of a tintype found for sale on eBay entitled "Awesome Fashion Boy." Inspired by the scalloped hemline of his stylish plaid dress, this locket celebrates the infinite ways we choose to present ourselves to the world.

Mokume-gane is a new material to my practice, and so I'm still acquainting myself with it. Every time I fired up the torch to fabricate an element or heat patina the metal, I found myself fascinated by how this material behaves. 

How lucky we are to celebrate Phillip, who made this amazing, historic, cherished material available to makers like us.

Artist Bio: I’m Christen and Deodata (dee-oh dotta,) known as Deo, was my grandmother. Deo encouraged me to become a maker at a young age. She helped me create my first business as a child, designing handmade greeting cards which she and her friends purchased. Deo supplied the watercolor paper and paints, and encouraged my creativity and business thinking. Today Deo’s inspiration lives on and takes the form of Deodata Design, my creative pursuit as a jeweler.

This piece is part of, From Wave to Shining Wave: a Celebration of Phil Baldwin and Shining Wave Metals Baldwin. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Seattle Metals Guild. 5% of sales will be donated to help fund an endowment at Pendland in Phillip Baldwin’s name. Learn more HERE. All work will remain on exhibit through July 20, 2025.

📂 [View the entire collection HERE ]

ℹ️ [Learn more about the exhibition HERE]