[Jewelry making - Article 00010] - [Orchid] Shaping Copper

[Michael Honeycutt]

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    Greetings all. I'm a bit confused about something and I knew you
    fine people would probably have an answer of some kind for me. I
    recently saw a show on Public Television where a group of artisans
    were tasked with refurbishing some ancient Bhuddist temples in the
    Himalayas. One part of the show (about 20-30 seconds worth) showed
    an individual crafting a slightly -larger-than-lifesized face of the
    Bhudda from a sheet of copper. They could have dedicated the whole
    show to that one aspect from my point of view but....Oh well. This
    wasn't work done with a pitch bowl that I could see although it may
    have been part of the process not shown. There was definitely some
    hammerwork being done but again ,I only saw a very small segment,
    and I didn't get a look at the tools and/or stakes (if any) being
    used. A local jeweler, bless his heart, insisted that it had to have
    been done using a pitch bowl and was all chasing and repousse'. I'm
    confused here. 

    It looked like what I would call raising or "forming" but I'm not
    sure. What the process is called isn't nearly as important to me  as
    the actual work itself. I've done a little chasing and repousse' but
    I want to learn the fine art of shaping voluminous forms from sheet
    type metal. If you know what it's called I'd like to know but I
    would really like to know some good reference materials that would
    give detailed information on the processes involved. Anyone out
    there know of a richly detailed book or books on the subject? I
    really want to know a lot more about this type of metalsmithing.
    Everything I've tried so far has been less than good and I think it
    may have a lot to do with my ignorance of tools and techniques.
    Small simple forms haven't been hard but more complex work (like
    faces) leaves me in the dirt. Any recommendations or enlightenment
    would be very greatly appreciated. I've got some copper and brass
    screaming for an artistic encounter with a hammer.  

Thanks.    
  Mike



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