Macchiarini Dot Bracelet (2014)

Macchiarini Dot Bracelet (2014)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
11 in., 136 g: ebony, ivory, turquoise, lapis, hardwood, sterling silver back, with brass framing and inlaid copper, silver and bronze dots and lines
Coppola Collection

This is the seventh “dot bracelet” that Danny has done for me. Here it is whilst under construction on his bench, following by some other views.

“Starry Night”


“Starry Night” (2018)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
yellow gold shank with 3 diamonds set into black jade, size 9
Coppola Collection

A special commission from Danny in the general motif of his third generation interpretation of the “dot ring” that he is known for.

Here he is sizing the shank from when I was there visiting, but before the lapidary had drilled the jade for doing the insets.

Anatomy of a Commission (III) – concluded


“1957 Fire Rooster 2017 – Gold Edition” (2017)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
1 x 1 in. base with a 2 in. rooster,
in gold with inlays of diamond and ruby
Coppola Collection

The gem inlays are in place and the weighty, 4-0unce masterpiece is done and in hand just as the Year of the Fire Rooster comes to an end.

And this one side-by-side with its larger bronze version, with the first-ever impressions taken from the stamps, and which I got to make.

If you are ever in San Francisco, head up to 1544 Grant Ave in North Beach and visit Danny Macchiarini. Be sure to pay proper homage to the Monkey King.

Anatomy of a Commission (II) – continued

Previously, the big bronze fire rooster, with its highlights in copper and with ebony and ivory inlays, was completed. Here it is again:


“1957 Fire Rooster 2017” (2017)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
3.5 x 3.5 in. base with a 4.5 in. rooster,
in bronze with ebony and ivory inlays and copper highlights
Coppola Collection

It’s a Chinese-style name stamp with my adopted Chinese name (高伯乐), imagined after my request and fabricated by Daniel Macchiarini, because you only turn 60 once, and the sign of the fire rooster just came around again for the first time since 1957.

The companion piece, cast in gold and adorned with diamonds and rubies, is almost done. He’s cast, and the big diamond is in his rebellious, outstretched claw. The inset adornments in the name block are remaining to be done. And you can see that it really, really works!


“1957 Fire Rooster 2017 – Gold Edition” (2017)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
1 x 1 in. base with a 2 in. rooster,
in gold with inlays of diamond and ruby
Coppola Collection

In fact, they both do.

Anatomy of a Commission (I)


“1957 Fire Rooster 2017” (2017)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
3.5 x 3.5 in. base with a 4.5 in. rooster,
in bronze with ebony and ivory inlays and copper highlights
Coppola Collection

Anatomy of a Commission (I)

In the Chinese tradition, your 60th birthday is a huge deal because it represents the restarting of the life cycle dictated by the combination of the 12 zodiac signs and the 5 elements coming back around. The year 1957 ushered in the fire rooster, and 2017 marks its return.

I decided to commission a couple of special name stamps with my adopted Chinese name (高伯乐), the one I use for the name of the art gallery at this site. My artist of choice was by buddy, Danny Macchiarini, some of whose works I have featured here.

The Chinese imperials had two kinds of personal stamps. The first kind was a large and ostentatious block, so I wanted a good-sized chunk of bronze, on the order of a 3.5-4 inch cube, with a carved stamp in the bottom and topped with a rooster. Danny could have three of the four sides to make his modernist designs, and the name would appear right-side on one face to match the mirrored carving on the bottom surface.

Danny designed an excellent rooster, filled with attitude, who was cast separately from the base. Here are a few steps in the process of the lost wax method.

The wax sculpture

The wax carving of the bottom face, with the stamp

The casting of the rooster

The casting of the bottom face

The casting of the rest of the cube, assembled and polished

Next up, a small and diamond-crusted name stamp, with a rooster, done in gold. Did I mention that 60 was a big deal?

Lost with the Old, In with the New

I was cleaning out the closet for a Purple Heart clothes donation and one of my favorite all-time Macchiarini rings slipped off my finger (I think, while doing this) and despite Herculean effort, I could not find the ring.

The shank of the ring was an original Macchiarini design that I liked, and I challenged Danny to create the World’s Smallest-Ever “Dot” motif for it. It was cool, and I miss it.

And so I needed (“needed”) to replace it. And if the old one ever appears… well, then, I will have two of them.OldRingS
The Old One

NewRingSThe New One
“Dot Ring” 
(2015)
by Daniel Macchiarini (1954-)
gold, ebony, copper, ivory
Coppola Collection