Spotted Owl Pin

Cavin Richie grew up in Colorado surrounded by the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. He moved to Washington State in 1970 and has lived near the sea ever since. Cavin's designs are a reflection of his surroundings. His line includes birds, mammals and amphibians, all accurately detailed. For the past thirty years he has carved with shed elk antler and woolly mammoth ivory. These carvings became the basis for his lost wax casting jewelry.

"Carving," says Cavin "is like touching antiquity. I feel a kinship with a long lineage of carvers dating back to the Pleistocene."

We are pleased to offer these solid bronze lost wax castings. A patina complements the earthy metal, giving each piece a unique finish.

Cavin chose bronze for his jewelry because of its ability to create its own personality, evolving over time. Bronze is the chameleon of soft metals that readily morphs to its chemical surroundings. Just being exposed to air will change it and when handled a lot or subjected to water/soap, hot springs, or salt water the transformation is hastened.

For each handcrafted piece, the patina is applied with heat and penetrates into the metal. A neutral wax is buffed on, which prolongs the patina and helps to protect the metal from surface oils and the environment. Over time, any areas of natural bronze will darken with age. Jewelry worn occasionally will usually retain the original look for years, just darkening slightly. If worn constantly, or exposed repeatedly to water, the patina will wear off similar to a bronze statue that has had many hands touch it. The surface will develop a nice bronze hue and the recessed areas will keep the original patina. Very heavy wear or rubbing will eventually transform the fine details of the casting to a smooth surface.

If your Wildlife in Bronze jewelry gets dirty, it can be gently cleaned with mild soap, warm water and a very soft toothbrush. To protect and prolong the finish a light coating of a neutral wax can be applied & buffed shiny. We recommend clear Trewax, available in most hardware stores.

Thank you for preserving the 'bronze age'!