Statement Jewellery with Silversmithing Techniques

This course is for individuals who wish to explore making statement jewellery, working with traditional silversmithing techniques to create hollow sculptural adornment for the body.

More about this course

This course aims to increase your knowledge of hammering techniques, working on different scale jewellery and with a variety of forms.

You will be introduced to Hand Raising, using hammering to transform a flat sheet metal into a shallow or deep vessel like form. You can also explore Anti-Clastic Raising, where metal can be curved in two directions simultaneously through bending and hammering. This can be used to create organic sculptural forms or you can hammer the edges closed to make a completely hollow ring.

Course structure

The first two sessions will introduce you to the two styles of raising: small-scale hand raising and anticlastic raising. You can then go on to use these methods to fulfil your design ideas.

You can explore texturing techniques and learn how to best apply these to your jewellery.

Throughout the course you will work from drawings or models and develop them into finished statement pieces.

You will learn techniques for joining elements together and for making functional catches and pin fittings for larger brooches, necklaces or bracelets.

You will also discover how to shape an entire bangle or neckpiece using a single sheet of metal. You can work from your ideas, imagery or objects for inspiration or can progress the sample techniques into finished pieces.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• hammer a small flat sheet metal into hollow forms using hand raising and anticlastic raising
• solder sheet metal and wire
• apply textures using hammering
• join multiple hand raised elements together to create sculptural statement jewellery
• attach fittings and catches to make functional wearable pieces