Lily of the Valley Kumboo Earrings
Jim Norton
These earrings are created with an ancient Korean gilding technique, called “Kumboo”, which is used to apply thin sheets of gold to silver.
Traditionally, this technique is accomplished by first depleting the surface of sterling silver to bring up a thin layer of fine silver. Then 24k gold foil is applied with heat and pressure - mechanical gilding. Pure precious metals such as gold and silver, have a very similar atomic structure, and therefore have a good potential for bonding. Heating these metals to a temperature between 500-700°F increases the movement of the atoms. When pressure is added, this causes an electron exchange at the surface between the two metals, creating a permanent diffusion bond.
$104
About the Artist
Jim Norton
Jim has a BA from the University of the South with an emphasis in printmaking and has always had an interest in jewelry and metal. In 1998, Jim began attending weeklong seminars at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, N.C. to study the art of enameling. After several enamel seminars he decided to learn to fabricate his own original pieces. Jim began attending jewelry classes offered by the Continuing Education program at UGA and in 2004 enrolled in the University of Georgia’s program in Jewelry and Metalwork. While in Graduate School Jim also received instruction in Book Arts and the art of paper making. He received an MFA in Jewelry and Metal in 2007.
Jim sells his work at Arts and Crafts Festivals throughout the Southeast and Midwest as well as in selected Galleries throughout the country.
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