Patina Metalware, Diane Hanson

Toronto, Canada

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As a young, enterprising woman, Diane Hanson trained as a goldsmith in Toronto and went on to win awards and recognition for her elegant and distinctive jewelry designs. Although successful as a jewelry artist, she wanted her own production company. Attending an aluminum anodizing workshop hooked her onto this medium and in 1983 she formed Patina Metalware, a company dedicated to producing quality production adodized aluminum jewelry and providing excellent service. She met the challenge of production with great enthusiasm. It continues to give her great pleasure designing items that can be made in multiples while maintaining a look of individuality. Patina Metalware designs are made by a team of in-studio craftspeople who have developed tremendous skill, speed and accuracy in jewelry making and especially wire bending. Diane examines every piece of jewelry made in the studio before it is allowed to leave because it is Patina Metalware's enduring pledge to quality designs and excellent service that has made so many thousands of customers satisfied.

All Patina Metalware designs are made utilizing the technique of anodizing aluminum. Since all of the anodizing is done in the studio, Patina Metalware has become known for producing infinite and amazing colors including metallics, earthtones, pastels and all of the traditional brights.

Coils of raw aluminum wire are anodized in an acid bath with an electric current for about 45 minutes. After the anodizing bath is complete, the aluminum wire has an invisible oxide layer built up on the surface. This oxide layer can then absorb any combination of dyes to achieve the desired color. After dyeing, the coils are treated in a boiling solution which seals the color permanently and makes the surface of the wire quite hard and durable.

Once the wire has been anodized it is cut into smaller pieces and carefully handformed with pliers into the distinctive Patina shapes that have been attracting attention to wearers for over 20 years.

Anodized aluminum colors are permanent and durable and will last for years if worn away from other metal.

Earrings and Company has more of Patina Metalwares' jewelry available at our Freeport Maine jewelry store.