One of Peter Jost's most memorable creations has the flavour of a contemporary fairy tale. A few years ago a bride-to-be was searching for a truly ideal wedding gift for her fianceé. She came to Peter and asked that he create a replica of a french horn, to be worn as a pendant. Without her fianceé's knowledge she met with Peter to show him the horn her soon to be husband played in the Princess Patricia Light Infantry Band. Enthusiastically Peter began studying and measuring every inch of the sophisticated instrument, fully intending to replicate the picturesque horn at 1/20th of its original size. Having calculated the materials and effort, Peter gave the young lady his estimate. She agreed to the price, but after consideration she realised it would cut too deeply into the couples planned honeymoon. Disappointed, she approached Peter again and asked if he could alter the planned pendant so that it would be more modest and put her more at ease about buying it. A simpler impression of the horn was suggested and agreed upon. As Peter began working, he discovered that the thought of creating this grand instrument, scaled 20 times smaller, was simply too exciting and challenging to lay aside. He started work on the miniature in 14 carat yellow gold and 19 carat white gold, but unknown to his client, he continued with the original plan to create an exact replica of the horn. The finished product was a masterpiece. When the bride came to pick up the pendant, only to be find it the original commission for which Peter wanted no extra fee, she was understandably shocked and delighted. The pendant turned out to be a gift for both the bride and the groom, from Peter to the couple. After all, fairy tales have happy endings.

© 2003 the Goldschmiede Studio phone: (403) 228-1066, e-mail: jostp@telus.net