A beautiful and practical guide to this ancient art of embellishing metal.

The latest in Victoria Lansford's internationally acclaimed instructional series provides clear and concise instructions for eight fused chain patterns, with endless variations. With more than 150 full-color process photographs, the easy to follow instructions will have even the novice metalsmith weaving and creating ancient and modern design chains. Over 50 photographs of work incorporating all of the chains will further inspire you to advance your own creations. 4 Ancient Mediterranean chain patterns 1-Direction Single-Weave 1-Direction Double-Weave 2-Directional Double-Weave 3-Directional Single-Weave 4 Contemporary chain patters, created by Victoria Lansford Undulating Mesh Vertebrate Side Weave Mesh Crossed Link Victoria's instructional series Metal Techniques of Bronze Age Masters, including Russian Filigree (DVD, 2006) and Rings (DVD, 2008) has sold throughout the world. The series is part of her continuing commitment to make the techniques of ancient artists accessible to modern metalsmiths.

More than 4,500 objects on 415 plates illustrate a remarkable variety of decorative ironwork from Roman times to the 19th century. Drawn from a rare 1924 source by a noted scholar and collector, it runs the gamut from door knockers and grilles to jewelry and religious symbols.

ThiS is not only a book of instruction in chainmaking but it is also a work celebrating man's continuous creativity over thousands of years. At times something that man creates has far-reach ing effects; an example that quickly comes to mind is the wheel, which has enabled many devel opments, from pottery to computers. At this point it is important to note that these same wheels could not have been made without metal tools. From early Neolithic times on gold was a favorite choice in the making of jewelry. During the Neolithic period these "shining stones," probably alluvial, were prized. Actually gold was cold worked as if it were a stone. There is a surviving example of cold-worked gold from Catahuyuk (present day Turkey) estimated to have been made in 6500 B. C. There were only four metals on the earth's surface that were found in sufficient quantity to be used: gold, copper, silver, and meteoric iron. An understanding of the malleability of gold, and of the annealing effect of fire, changed jewelry making; new forms were found. Gold was no longer a piece of stone but a material that could be flattened and made very thin. Sheet and foil are the oldest forms of worked gold. The smiths' tools were stone, wood, and horn.

"A master artist and teacher of metalwork presents a bold new approach to creative expression in metal. Believing that the time has come for the artist to free himself from the functional forms that have dominated the metalsmith's craft -- the cup, the box, the pitcher, etc. -- Heikki Seppä urges the craftsman to create in terms of pure form, and in this book he shows him how...The book is profusely illustrated throughout with the author's own sketches of the ideas and techniques discussed. It will be of significant value to the accomplished craftsman as well as to teachers and advanced students of this exciting and growing art form." --P. [4] of cover.

The first book to offer not only detailed examples and history, but step-by-step instruction on the legendary metalworking traditions of Korea. These techniques, with beginnings in the 3rd century, are legendary in the art world, but information on how the breathtaking effects are created in the studio has been difficult to find until now. Crafted gold, silver, jade, and other materials are brought to life in 400+ photos, including Korean pieces (now in museums) that have through the centuries expressed the pinnacle of each method. Each chapter also focuses on works produced from 1980 through 2017 by modern metalwork experts, including artists from North America, showing how they incorporate traditional methods with modern working methods. Includes instructions for 15 techniques, including 24K gold overlay on silver (keum-boo or geumbu), line inlay on iron and copper works (kkium ipsa), chasing and repousse (tachul), enameling (chilbo), jade nephrite carving and inlay (oak ipsa), and many more.

E. Mairi MacArthur looks at the work of renowned Scottish artisans and jewellers Alexander and Euphemia Ritchie.