The October 2006 silversmithing 1-week class produced a range of interesting items. The first five pictured were made in sterling silver by the lost-wax process, where a design is first made in either carving wax or soft mouldable wax. This is enrobed in a fireproof cement, then put in a small furnace to burn the wax away. The resulting cavity is filled with molten silver, allowed to cool then broken apart. The resulting item is cleaned and polished. The wax is “lost” in the process, meaning that each wax gives rise to only one copy in silver. The method with variations has been in use for at least 5000 years!
The items, in order, include a silver leaf pendant with vein detailing; a pair of silver ear-rings (still embedded in a flat matrix) based on a seashell motif; a helical ring with domed details; a heavy silver ring where the original wax was cast from textured and embossed paper; and a silver christening spoon.
The bottom row features one of the students holding her design, ready-enrobed in the fireproof cement; a cast pewter spoon shape; and a copper ring which was fabricated and had a soldered silver detail.
I'm sure there is something interesting over there...or, as I believe a Chinese phrase has it, it's often better to travel hopefully than to arrive...
