Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Polymer Chinese Fingernail Guards

This was one of my submissions to IPCA's Progress and Possibilities this year. In dynastic China, the upper class people grew long fingernails in order to distinguish themselves from the laborers. Manual labor was virtually impossible with excessively long fingernails, so long nails or just long pinky nails separated the working class from the aristocracy. This type of fingernail protector or guard ensured their nails would not get damaged. I loved how the fingernail guards came out, but they didn't photograph well. So I sculpted a strange looking textured hand to display them. A very unusual little sculpture indeed.

12 comments:

Purky said...

Love it, there is a real ethereal quality :)

DorothéeV said...

Whouh, I saw your creation on the International Polymer Clay Association site, it struck me immediately ! It's strange, beautiful, threatening, the effect is very powerful ! It makes me think of a witch's hand mixed with a dead tree branches... It looks straight out of a weird fairytale... and could inspire a good story !

Marlene Brady said...

Thank you Purky.

Marlene Brady said...

Thank you---I think I will work on that concept. You have planted a seed.

DVArtist said...

ooohhhhhhh I love this!!! Creepy and beautiful all at the same time. Fantastic!
Nicole/Beadwright

Marlene Brady said...

Thank you Nicole! I agree, it is really creepy....the more I look at it. I'm glad to hear from you. Thanks again.

Unknown said...

Absolutely fantastic, love love love these!
Alien aristocrat, ethereal, I could just see these as something in a new Dr. Who episode :)

Marlene Brady said...

Wow, thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I think I will include these in October's Halloween collection.

Barbara said...

Beadwright said "creepy" -- no surprise there. I didn't see it that way, but definitely see it as beautiful. It's a sculpture for sure, but not just the hand, all of it!

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Marlene, this is stunning and truly exquisite! I would like to crawl inside your brain for awhile, maybe all the creative ideas buzzing around in there would inspire me out of my slump!

Lynda

Marlene Brady said...

I just watched "Dinner for Schmucks" and had a great laugh. The best part for me was the line "I release you". So, from me to you, "I release you from your slump!" If nothing else, make some "slump beads" you can feel, hold and move on from. Express your frustration woman!

Madeira Darling said...

I would buy these in a heart beat, I have long nails and these'd be a life saver