Frank Patania Senior (1899-1964) American Master

This sterling cuff (private collection) demonstrates many of the assertions I have made about my grandfather such as his use of overlay. His style of overlay (applying one layer of sheet silver with a design cut into it onto a textured lower piece) I just don't see in metal working anywhere else during this early period of his career (1927 to 1950). He developed it into a very sophisticated signature of his work. For the cuff in the photos he used an overlay frame onto which he placed 3 dimensional flowers.
He also set domes of silver as if they were stones in the sawtooth bezels in these flowers, another signature of his I see no where else to this day. I have sets domes of silver and gold as stones in my work and I can tell you it is a very difficult technique. My grandfather and my dad, Frank Patania Junior, both innovated in their design and craftsmanship which I consider the mark of a true artist. Anyone can copy designs but a true artist creates new technique and develops it over their career.