A keepsake made by hand, one piece at a time. This square steel ring dish is cut from heavy gauge industrial steel, hammered, and darkened by hand in Lake Murray, South Carolina.
This one is left plain on purpose. No lettering, no personalization. The soft square shape and the hammered texture carry it, which makes it an easy fit for a nightstand, a dresser, a desk, or an entry table. Steel is the traditional metal for the 11th wedding anniversary, so it works as a milestone gift without announcing itself as one.
Each dish begins as a flat sheet of heavy gauge industrial steel. It is cut, formed, and hammered by hand. The darkening solution is then worked over the surface with a rag, built up in layers and added to wherever it needs more, until raw steel turns a deep gunmetal gray. The high points of the hammer marks are sanded back lightly afterward, so light catches the peaks while the recesses stay dark.
That final step is what gives these dishes their depth, and it is also why no two are the same. The patina takes hold a little differently every time. Some finish closer to charcoal, others closer to a soft pewter gray. Yours will not look exactly like the photographs, and that is the point.
Details:
• Handcrafted steel - formed and hammered by hand, one at a time in Lake Murray, South Carolina
• Small (3"): approximately 3" x 3" x 1/2" H, with softly curved sides
• Finish: hand darkened patina, sealed with a protective wax coating
• Traditional 11th anniversary metal, and a fitting choice for the 6th (iron) anniversary
• Gift-ready packaging - arrives in a gift box with a bow
• No two are alike - every dish takes the darkening differently
Handmade to order. Please allow one extra day of processing, since the darkening has to cure before the dish can be waxed and packed.
Each piece is made with care by a female-owned small business in South Carolina.
Please note: This is a decorative keepsake dish, designed to hold rings and small keepsakes. It's not intended for use with food or drink. Steel will spot if it stays damp, so keep it dry and wipe it with a soft cloth.
