Lazarus, come forth

Mounted pin-brooch, 2007 aterials: 20ct gold, carved fire opal inlaid with blue opal, silver, 18ct white gold pin

height (without pin): 46.5mm width: 27mm ount: mixed media Signed and dated artist’s no: 409.MP-B.07 hidden alche y: 209

The brother of Mary and Martha, citizens of Bethany, was, contemporary physicians now assert, clearly one of the earliest recorded victims of narcolepsy, or sleepingsickness. But this, like so many explanations of mystery, is instead an explaining away; for in the same chapter (11) of St John appears, unfolding through this metaphor of immutable soul, the universal promise of resurrection in return for belief, which is the central tenet of New Testament teaching. Lazarus can be seen, then, as demonstrating hope through faith and forgiveness: a compelling story for nonbelievers, as well as believers of different faiths. His face ‘bound about with a napkin’ has previously inspired me to make rings but in this case I was prompted to make my very own ‘resurrection’ of a beautiful, but damaged, piece of fire-opal whose scars and wounds I was able to carve away to find, not dead but sleeping, my own Lazarus.