Bracelet by Sam Patania
This bracelet is another variation of one of my grandfather’s templates. My grandfather, Frank Patania, Sr. died in 1964 when I was 3 years old so I never had the chance to know him or work with him. I learned about him from my father, aunts and great uncle as well as the workers who still worked for my family when I started apprenticing. By all accounts he was a generous well loved man.
My grandfather left me a great wealth of materials and designs in the form of templates. He was apparently as bad on paper as I am so he worked in metal to design. He also gave me my dad who generously and patiently gave me and shares with me the love of our work.
I don’t have a clue how he would have used many of the templates he left and the same goes for some of the tools he left. So it is up to me to discover how to use those tools and how I want to use the designs. The template I used for this bracelet was originally shorter than bracelet length so I lengthened it to 6 inches which is our usual default for bracelet length.
I have made maybe as many as 10 of these bracelets over the years. I have made one in all 18K Gold and one with 18K accents like the one in the above picture. This bracelet was started many years ago then left in the scrap box until I picked it out and finished it. I chased the design in from the back in a pitch pot using tools that were made in the shop of my dad and grandfather. I start with 16 gage sterling and this piece was made with regular sterling since at the time I made it Argentium was not available. I am wanting to chase and reppousse’ Argentium some time in the future.
This bracelet is available through Mark Bahti’s store, www.bahti.com and I believe he has it here in Tucson.
My contact info is;
Sam Patania, 1830 E. Broadway, Ste. 124-204, Tucson, AZ 85719. Ph# 520-795-0086 Email; pataniajewelry@earthlink.net If you are in the Tucson area please give me a call. I would love to show off my studio.
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