FAQs

What is keum-boo?

Pronounced "come boo" is a Korean technique for applying 24k gold to the surface of other alloys (silver). Keum-boo literally means "attached-gold" in Korean. To keum-boo a piece, I take the finished piece of sterling silver jewelry and 'depletion silver it' by repeatedly heating it and pickling it until the surface becomes white. This is essentially bringing the surface of metal back to fine silver. At this stage the piece is placed on a hot plate to evenly heat the piece and then I apply a very thin layer of gold foil and press and burnish with with an agate burnisher until it sticks. 

What do you mean, when you say a piece is 'oxidized'?

When a piece is oxidized, I have applied a patination technique to accelerate the  natural patina process, producing a blackened, worn antique finish. 

What is 'reclaimed' metal?

The term 'reclaimed' means the metal is re-purposed or recycled - as in, the silver I use is often made from something that was once something else...like a spoon! I melt the silver down and roll it out into the shape I need to make my design.