old Harar Pendant - repaired - Gallery

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old Harar Pendant - repaired

Posted by Eva Baby on March 20, 2013 at 3:04pm

old Muslim Pendant from the Harar in Ethiopia. I bought it some time ago nearly free (paid 1.99 Eur) because nobody wanted it. Two glass stones were missing. As I could not find suitable replacements, I decided to fill the empty rings with modelling mass (Fimo), hardened in the oven. Of course it is not shiny like the glass stones and does not look perfect, but it looks better than with the holes..... that is how it came out. After this picture, I applied some nail gloss on the two Fimo parts, which did it very good!

Comments

Eva Baby March 20, 2013 at 3:13pm

this is how it looked when I got it.
ann March 21, 2013 at 6:06am

Eva I like it, it has character. If it is polymer clay you used, then there is a varnish you can buy suitable for that clay which would make it shiny.

Whatever, its lovely, and better than before.

Good on you!
Eva Baby March 21, 2013 at 6:19am

@Ann: thank you very much for this idea! I did not know, nor think about it (varnish)! Good to know, I will try to find it! great advice, thank you!
Eva Baby March 21, 2013 at 10:43am

I did put some lacquer on the modelling mass, it does look shiny now like the stones! What a wonderful advice - I am quite enthused. The colour is exactly the same now, quite happy with the outcome!
Toya March 21, 2013 at 4:39pm

What a clever idea for fixing missing stones! I will try it on several things I have collected.
Eva Baby March 21, 2013 at 8:38pm

Thanks again Ann, Toya, and Sarah for the feature. On the package it says "classic modelling clay" (to be hardened in the oven), colour "bordeaux" (red). I cannot figure out if it is polymer clay or not (it is a German product, the writing is extremely small and after opening the package, the print is not really readible anymore because the wrapping is torn......... sorry. But it seems a good substitute if one cannot find suitable glass or other stones. (I would have preferred to use glass stones, but I could not find any in the correct size). I'mquite pleased with the outcome, better than the holes as it was before
Akkie March 21, 2013 at 10:43pm

Good result, Eva.
Eva Baby March 29, 2013 at 9:01am

@THank you Akkie! In the meantime I put the varnish (lacquer) on the clay parts, and it looks even better (as it became shiny, following the advice by Ann under comments). the picture here was made bevore the varnish.
Chantal March 29, 2013 at 10:33am

Very clever and effective. well done. it makes it a very unusual piece and it looks authentic!
Eva Baby March 29, 2013 at 11:44am

@Thank you Chantal. It really looks nice now, the metal is shiny, the red "stones" are shiny, I could even wear it like this.