Pewter Gate Keys

Part of the charm and culture of Burning Man is creating ‘swag’, or thoughtful mementos go freely give away to participants. As a volunteer for the Gate team at Burning Man each year, I wanted to create something unique to give away to the folks I spend a lot of time volunteering alongside with. The key uses symbolism and imagery that are part of the Gate culture, including skulls, the number 13, and the key itself.

I used base keys that I purchased from Etsy, then sculpted the skulls into place using charms from my craft stash. The molds were made from high-temp silicone and the keys were cast in pewter in my kitchen, then antiqued with a solution and hand buffed to create the perfect patina look. I created 300 pieces in all.