Hydrangea is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to south and eastern Asia and North and South America. Most are shrubs growing 1 to 3 meters tall, while some are small trees and others lianas. Ama-cha, meaning sweet tea, is a tisane made from Hydrangea serrat. It is poured over a statue of Buddha in a bathing ceremony and served to people in attendance on April 8, the day thought to be Buddha's birthday.
Materials: The Hydrangea flowers are cast in bronze with an antique bronze over copper finish. The posts are 925 silver.
Measures: 0.5" L x 0.5" W
This unique jewelry is made by creating molds directly from botanical elements in a process similar to lost-wax casting. While traditional lost-wax casting begins with a hand-carved model of wax, Michael Michaud instead uses an actual leaf, branch or flower in place of the wax model. A mold is created around the botanical element and as it is heated the plant matter burns away and leaves behind a beautifully detailed mold of itself.