This cloisonné enamel pendant was made for someone with special La Ballona pride. Leo the Lion is shining in warm red and golden brown transparent enamels and fine silver wires over a base of textured fine (pure) silver. The reverse is black opaque enamel, with a sterling silver bail. The pendant's 1.25" diameter is a perfect petite size to be worn by an adult, or a child. The winner will get to choose a style and length of sterling silver chain to complete the necklace, which will come in a keepsake box.

Cloisonné is a painstaking handmade process where many thin layers of powdered glass are fused on metal in a high temperature kiln. The glass sits within "cloisons" or compartments bounded by intricately hand-shaped silver wire. The transparent enamel allows the patterned silver underneath to show through and catch sunlight, and allows for a seamless blending of colors across the piece. The finished piece is carefully ground and polished by hand and then returned to the kiln for a final fire polish.

The base was hand sawed, cut and fused from flat silver sheet. The whole piece was designed, created, and finished by me (Eric Taylor). This special piece incorporating our favorite lion mascot will always be one of a kind, just like La Ballona.

Thank you to Eric Taylor, father of Robin (4th grader) and Ben (LB alumnus), for this generous donation to our La Ballona auction. Robin is modeling the necklace in the photo. :)