Merry-Lee Rae
Freedom, California
First Place, Enamel Distinction
By John Shanahan
Throughout a long career in jewelry, Freedom, California–based artist Merry-Lee Rae has focused on animals in her work. Often she turns her eye to sea creatures—turtles, dolphins, and octopi, all rendered in beautiful, classic cloisonné. For her 2019 Enamel Distinction award-winning entry, she left the ocean and came ashore, capturing the essence of a Florida panther in vitreous enamel. Built on a fine silver base with 24k wires forming the borders and boundaries of the animal’s face, the painterly image rests within an 18k gold setting, with a 22k bezel surrounding the cloisonné. The pendant is accented with a 0.07 carat diamond and an 0.8 carat orange sapphire.