Seal Fob Pendant – Bonshō

General Notes

The seal fob brings the function of a signet ring to the pendant. Commonly worn by men from the late 17th to early 19th centuries, seal fobs would be hung from a pocket watch chain either individually or in clusters. They could be purely decorative or both decorative and functional.

The SFP-B is a modern interpretation of this historic form of adornment and of the sacred object which inspired its design. Slightly more diminutive than its cousin the SPF-O, this pendant takes its name from the bonshō, large bells hung outside Japanese Buddhist temples used to summon monks to prayer and demarcate time. Without internal clappers, they were rung from the outside and had remarkable resonance, later serving as signals, alarms and timekeepers.

Our travels to Japan, though seemingly a lifetime ago, served to deepen our love of Japanese design and provide endless inspiration. This unisex pendant is a tribute to one of the more traditional objects found in Japan, though it retains the spirit of minimalism seen throughout this design culture.

Mammoth ivory has become one of my favorite materials for its smooth creamy white color, which is often accented by tan streaks. It comes from the long extinct wooly mammoth, the last of which returned to the earth around 10,000 years ago. An ancient material, it can be inscribed and carved like gemstones and is used for scrimshaw, sculpture and jewelry. We favor mammoth ivory for its minimal, quiet character and the contrast it presents when placed next to metals and woods.

Chain is sold separately below.
+$75 (for 18”)         +$80 (for 20”)

Materials

• Recycled sterling silver
• Mammoth ivory

Methods of Construction

• Lathe turning
• Lost wax casting
• Hand set
• Hand polished and finished