Chasing and Repousee, silversmithing techniques

 I love learning new techniques in art and in silversmithing. 

I booked in to a weekend workshop with Bryony Knox in Edinburgh a few weeks ago and absolutely loved learning about chasing and repousee. As I have recently retired from teaching it was brilliant to be a student again and learn from an expert. There were five students tapping away in her cosy studio, heating up pitch, setting in the copper and drawing our images, then chasing them in to the metal.

some of the equipment used for setting the metal in the pitch

Because I enjoy drawing so much, it is a wonderful extension of this to make them 3D - to raise shapes in metal by tapping stakes and pushing the metal around. 

I also learned how to make my own tools which was a real bonus as this is a crucial part of the process. Bryony is such a calm teacher, nothing was too much for her and we produced a lot in our two days there.

lots of tapping to create the outline, known as chasing

I bought silver when I got home and made two bowls using this technique - for the CraftNI Xmas exhibition, The Gift.

I ordered more pitch and worked away on creating a Thorn bowl and a Japanese Quince bowl.  I also made a necklaces and earrings which have now been hallmarked and are on their way back from the Assay Office in London, having been hallmarked. 

A thorn created in copper in the workshop