Joining land and sea, mollusk and mineral, cuttlefish bone casting is a method of metalworking that produces one-of-a-kind pieces. Cuttlefish are cephalopods with a unique internal structure called a cuttlebone, which is light, porous and easy to carve. Smiths have been using them as molds for casting small objects, usually in silver, for hundreds of years. (Here’s a brief overview of the technique)
One of the coolest things about cuttlefish bone casting is that the molten metal takes on organically-shaped ridges from the structure of the cuttlebone. Many artists use these as a design element, evoking their origins in the sea. Each mold can only be used once, so each cast object is unique. Australian artist Katrina Newman uses the technique to create pieces that fuse ancient and modern, craggy and sleek, as in this striking pendant called Post by the Sea.
You can see more of Newman’s work at her etsy shop and her website.
The Finch and Pea 
Thanks for featuring my work in your feature on cuttefish casting. I hope to demonstrate the technique on my website http://katrinanewman.com in the next few months.
Let us know when you do and we will gladly link to it.
Reblogged this on Katrina Newman.
I finally recorded a couple of cuttleish casting demonstrations at my open studio on the 2nd March. Please visit the following link to see a gallery of pictures and a description of the process. http://katrinanewman.com/2014/03/08/cuttlefish-casting/