Ancient goldsmith tools

First used by the Egyptians, this decorative technique involves the application of Niello - a black-coloured powder, made by fusing together copper, silver, lead and sulphur - onto designs engraved on small-scale metal objects, usually made of silver. Once the engraved metal surface is coated with the Niello, heat is applied which causes the Niello to melt and run into the engraved channels. Kievan Rus craftsmen were noted for their nielli during the 10th to 13th century, some of which is preserved in the Ukrainian Museum of Historic Treasures, in Kiev.

See also: Christian Art Byzantine Era c. Another great exponent of Niello was the Florentine goldsmith Maso Finiguerra Other noteworthy nielli include Anglo-Saxon gold belt buckles and other items from the Sutton Hoo hoards; and the Minden Crucifix , Minden cathedral, Germany. This traditional metalworking technique is employed to create a raised or sunken design in a sheet of gold or other metal. Another method of embossing is known as Chasing. During the process of enamelling , a glass-like glaze is applied to a metal surface or object and then subjected to intense heat, which fuses the glaze, turning it into a beautifully coloured decorative coating.

The glassy coating known as vitreous enamel can be made partly or wholly transparent, or completely opaque; furthermore, its colour can be controlled by mixing the smelted glass with various metal oxides such as cobalt, iron, praseodymium and others.

Enamelling has affinities with mosaics and painting, and attained its first peak in early Byzantine culture. It also flourished during medieval times, notably in Limoges c. The latter is then removed with a few taps, leaving a network of enamel-filled compartments, which allow much more light to shine through.

A solid gold cup richly decorated with enamel and pearls, it is generally regarded as the foremost example of late medieval French plate. The technique was not fully developed until the era of Romanesque art This delicate technique basically involves the creation of gold and silver metalwork, using patterns of tiny gold beads or globules of gold granulation , soldered to the surface of an object in patterns suggestive of lace.

It was widely used by Italian and French goldsmiths from the midth century to the late 19th century. Filagree reached an early apogee in Etruscan and Greek art c. In Ireland, examples of filagree goldsmithery include the Tara brooch c.

See also: Celtic Metalwork art. The term Chryselephantine art - derived from the Greek words chrysos gold and elephantinos ivory - refers to sculptures made from a combination of ivory carving and gold.

Typically, a chryselephantine sculpture was built around a wooden frame, using thinly carved ivory for the flesh, and gold leaf for the armour, clothes, hair, and other details. Precious and semi-precious gemstones were used for details like eyes, jewellery, and weapons. The design of chryselephantine works was often modular to enable the gold to be removed and melted for coins in times of financial necessity.

An anvil, vise, drawplate for wire , dividers, calipers, hammers with different shaped "panes" or "peens" and "faces," punches with various faces, scorpers for lowering the surface by removal , set of engraving tools, swages, soldering irons, blow pipe, etc. To them we owe the delicate chain-link termed. Gold bead anklets were worn between 8, and 5, B. Their astonishingly artistic gold pectoral ornaments, pierced, carved and inlaid with colored stones, prove the high state of their goldsmiths in art and execution.

They made golden earrings, finger rings, bracelets, chains; the noted seven branched candlestick and altar vessels of Solo mon's temple and the king's table 'service were of gold. The Greeks in the 8th and 7th cen turies B. The Scythians had wealth and loved golden ornaments and Greek pieces were plentiful with them, as is attested by the frequent discoveries of gold ornaments in the graves.

As mentioned above, gravers are used to remove metal. In certain setting styles they can also be used to create beads that form prongs for gemstones. This type of setting is extremely precise and requires extraordinary skill. Photo by Memoria Technica. Watchmakers are an entirely different breed; the level of precision required of a true watch maker is unparalleled.

The market today is dominated by disposable quartz movements, so old-fashioned watchmaking is a dwindling profession. There are only a handful of companies at the very highest end that even still make mechanical movements. Sadly, fewer and fewer young people are willing to invest the time it takes to become proficient to work on mechanical watches. While the earning potential for the highest skill levels is significant, entry-level workers are not highly compensated.

Watchmakers employ a dizzying array of tools, parts, and devices. Employing many of the same skills and techniques of the goldsmith, watchmakers demonstrate proficiency in the fine jewelry arts as well as the mechanical skills required to build and repair watches. These were often magnificent pieces of furniture, with a charm and character unique to the profession.

It was also common for them to have lockable enclosures such as hinged lids or roll tops to prevent opportunistic theft of valuable tools and materials. This is by no means a comprehensive or complete review of all the tools used by these craftsmen. Clearly, woodworking tools hold a broader appeal, probably because the average person can better relate to their use. Tools of the jeweler, goldsmith, silversmith, engraver, and watchmaker tend to be viewed as a bit more exotic and intended for very specific, and often unfamiliar, uses to most people.

I use many tools in woodworking that were designed for the jewelry bench, simply because they suit a particular need better than anything else available. Filed under Metal Arts , W. Like Like. My brother who was a goldsmith and gemologist passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack at 56 and I am helping to close his estate.

We have all of his tools to dispense with. He lived in Northern Wisconsin just north of Green Bay. You are commenting using your WordPress.

You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. Hand Fabricated Goldsmithing A hand fabricated piece of gold jewelry has been meticulously made by hand.

While this method has many variables depending on the desired design, the following techniques and tools are commonly used: Forging : Gold sheets and other shapes are carefully forged with a hammer.

Soldering : Separate pieces are soldered together with a precision torch. Repoussage : The gold sheet is hammered from the back side to create a design in relief. Chasing : Also known as embossing, the gold is hammered from the front side to create a design or refine the repoussage design. Discover Your Own Ethical Gold Design Gold has been worked by humans across cultures for thousands of years, transforming the raw metal into ceremonial items, decor, weaponry, utensils, and, of course, jewelry.

Contact info cate thesisgems. Sign up to our mailing list. Connect with us.