GB2138273A - Production of decorative objects - Google Patents

Abstract

A decorative object in the shape or form of an insect is made by (A) coating an insect body with a layer of liquid unsaturated polyester resin containing a free radical polymerisation initiator and allowing the layer to cure to form a transparent cured coating over the surface of the insect body; (B) applying a layer of a varnish or lacquer containing finely divided or powdered bronze to the underside of the coated object and allowing the layer to dry; (C) electroplating a layer of copper onto the layer of dried bronze-containing varnish; (D) attaching mountings and/or findings to the body of the decorative object to the layer of copper; (E) electroplating nickel onto the mountings and/or findings and exposed portions of the copper layer; and (F) electroplating a precious metal onto the nickel plated areas of the object. v

Description

SPECIFICATION Production of decorative objects This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to the production of decorative objects, that is decorative objects orjewellery intended to be worn upon the person. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a method for the production of decorative objects in the shape or form of insects and starting from a natural insect body as basis.

Basically, the method in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of: (A) coating an insect body with a layer of liquid unsaturated polyester resin containing a free radical polymerisation initiator and allowing the layer to cure to form a transparent cured coating over the surface of the insect body; (B) applying a layer of a varnish or lacquer containing finely divided or powdered bronze to the underside of the coated object and allowing the layer to dry; (C) electroplating a layer of copper onto the layer of dried bronze-containing varnish; (D) attaching mountings and/findings to the body of the decorative object to the layer of copper; (E) electroplating nickel onto the mountings and/or findings and exposed portions of the copper layer; and (F) electroplating a precious metal onto the nickel plated areas of the object.

The insect body used as basis in the method of the invention may be, for example, the body of a butterfly, beetle, moth or dragonfly. In step (A) of the method of the invention, the insect body is provided with a transparent coating formed by the polyermisation of a liquid polyester resin in the presence of a free radical polymerisation initiator such as benzoyl peroxide, typically employed in an amount of about 0.5% by weight based on the weight of polyester resin. The amount of resin employed is suitably such as to give a cured layer from 0.3 to 0.6 mm thick and the liquid resin may be applied to the insect body by, for example, dip coating, spray coating or brushing.

In step (B) of the process, the underside of the coated insect body is provided, for example by brushing or spray paining, with a layer of a varnish or lacquer, i.e. an air-drying varnish lacquer, containing finely divided or powdered bronze. Suitably, the bronze-containing varnish contains a relatively high proportion of bronze powder to varnish, e.g. the bronze-containing varnish contains about 3% by weight of varnish based on the weight of bronze powder, in which case the bronze-containing varnish suitably also contains a diluent or thinner, suitably in an amount of about 50% by weight, based on the weight of the bronze powder.

After drying off the bronze-containing varnish, the object is then electroplated with copper, e.g. from a copper sulphate solution in which the object is immersed, whereby to provide the varnished areas of the object with a layer of copper, typically 0.5 to 0.8 mm in thickness.

The object is now ready for the step of attaching mouldings and/or findings. The nature of these latter will, of course, depend upon the intended final nature of the decorative objection which may, for example, take the form of a brooch, pendant or sliding chain. The mountings and/findings, which will be of metal, are suitably attached to the copper layer by soldering using, for example, a conventional 60/40 tin/lead solder.

After attachment of the mountings and/or findings, these, and any unexposed portions of the copper layer, are electroplated with nickel, typically by dipping the object in a nickel electroplating bath and electroplating for a period of about 5 minutes.

Finally, the nickel plated mountings and/or findings and copper layer are electroplated with a decorative precious metal such as gold or rhodium, whereby to produce the finished object in which the front or topside of the insect body is coated with a transparent layer of cured polyester resin, so that the natural colouring of the body is revealed, whilstthe underside of the object is plated with decorative precious metal.

1. A method for the production of a decorative object in the shape or form of an insect and starting from a natural insect body as bases which comprises the steps of: (A) coating an insect body with a layer of liquid unsaturated polyester resin containing a free radical polymerisation initiator and allowing the layer to cure to form a transparent cured coating over the surface of the insect body; (B) applying a layer of a varnish or lacquer containing finely divided or powdered bronze to the underside of the coated object and allowing the layer to dry; (C) electroplating a layer of copper onto the layer of dried bronze-containing varnish; (D) attaching mountings and/or findings to the body of the decorative object to the layer of copper; (E) electroplating nickel onto the mountings and/or findings and exposed portions of the copper layer; and (F) electroplating a precious metal onto the nickel plated areas of the object.

2. A method as ciaimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Production of decorative objects This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to the production of decorative objects, that is decorative objects orjewellery intended to be worn upon the person. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a method for the production of decorative objects in the shape or form of insects and starting from a natural insect body as basis. Basically, the method in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of: (A) coating an insect body with a layer of liquid unsaturated polyester resin containing a free radical polymerisation initiator and allowing the layer to cure to form a transparent cured coating over the surface of the insect body; (B) applying a layer of a varnish or lacquer containing finely divided or powdered bronze to the underside of the coated object and allowing the layer to dry; (C) electroplating a layer of copper onto the layer of dried bronze-containing varnish; (D) attaching mountings and/findings to the body of the decorative object to the layer of copper; (E) electroplating nickel onto the mountings and/or findings and exposed portions of the copper layer; and (F) electroplating a precious metal onto the nickel plated areas of the object. The insect body used as basis in the method of the invention may be, for example, the body of a butterfly, beetle, moth or dragonfly. In step (A) of the method of the invention, the insect body is provided with a transparent coating formed by the polyermisation of a liquid polyester resin in the presence of a free radical polymerisation initiator such as benzoyl peroxide, typically employed in an amount of about 0.5% by weight based on the weight of polyester resin. The amount of resin employed is suitably such as to give a cured layer from 0.3 to 0.6 mm thick and the liquid resin may be applied to the insect body by, for example, dip coating, spray coating or brushing. In step (B) of the process, the underside of the coated insect body is provided, for example by brushing or spray paining, with a layer of a varnish or lacquer, i.e. an air-drying varnish lacquer, containing finely divided or powdered bronze. Suitably, the bronze-containing varnish contains a relatively high proportion of bronze powder to varnish, e.g. the bronze-containing varnish contains about 3% by weight of varnish based on the weight of bronze powder, in which case the bronze-containing varnish suitably also contains a diluent or thinner, suitably in an amount of about 50% by weight, based on the weight of the bronze powder. After drying off the bronze-containing varnish, the object is then electroplated with copper, e.g. from a copper sulphate solution in which the object is immersed, whereby to provide the varnished areas of the object with a layer of copper, typically 0.5 to 0.8 mm in thickness. The object is now ready for the step of attaching mouldings and/or findings. The nature of these latter will, of course, depend upon the intended final nature of the decorative objection which may, for example, take the form of a brooch, pendant or sliding chain. The mountings and/findings, which will be of metal, are suitably attached to the copper layer by soldering using, for example, a conventional 60/40 tin/lead solder. After attachment of the mountings and/or findings, these, and any unexposed portions of the copper layer, are electroplated with nickel, typically by dipping the object in a nickel electroplating bath and electroplating for a period of about 5 minutes. Finally, the nickel plated mountings and/or findings and copper layer are electroplated with a decorative precious metal such as gold or rhodium, whereby to produce the finished object in which the front or topside of the insect body is coated with a transparent layer of cured polyester resin, so that the natural colouring of the body is revealed, whilstthe underside of the object is plated with decorative precious metal. CLAIMS

1. A method for the production of a decorative object in the shape or form of an insect and starting from a natural insect body as bases which comprises the steps of: (A) coating an insect body with a layer of liquid unsaturated polyester resin containing a free radical polymerisation initiator and allowing the layer to cure to form a transparent cured coating over the surface of the insect body; (B) applying a layer of a varnish or lacquer containing finely divided or powdered bronze to the underside of the coated object and allowing the layer to dry; (C) electroplating a layer of copper onto the layer of dried bronze-containing varnish; (D) attaching mountings and/or findings to the body of the decorative object to the layer of copper; (E) electroplating nickel onto the mountings and/or findings and exposed portions of the copper layer; and (F) electroplating a precious metal onto the nickel plated areas of the object.

2. A method as ciaimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.