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One of the
main concerns of the Institute is that of continuing and appropriate
education of emerging young craftspeople. The Institute conceived ,
sponsored and continues to fund the setting examination under the
auspices of the City and Guilds of London Institute. The Institute is
also a sponsor of the Goldsmiths Craft Council.
Many
Institute members, due to their knowledge and expertise in the various
categories participate as judges. The traditional apprenticeship scheme
is actively supported, with members passing on their skills and
undiminished enthusiasm to the next generation.
The
Institute will advise retailers seeking the best designers, enamellers,
engravers, goldsmiths, lapidaries, mounters, silversmiths, setters and
other skilled craft workers.
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Membership
is drawn from the complete spectrum of the craft: |
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Casting |
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Casting is a very ancient
skill for producing master designs. The process is many faceted with varying
techniques used from masters created in wax or metal . A rubber is
made which is used to make wax duplicates. Many waxes are assembled in a
tree-like structure and encased in plaster of paris. After the plaster has
set the wax is melted out and centrifugal force is used to drive
the metal into the voids previously occupied by the wax. |
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Chasing & Repousse |
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Repousse is a
long established technique of producing relief decoration on metal plate by
punching and hammering thin metal from the reverse, in order to raise a
design on the front. Chasing is a technique of decorating the surface of
metal ware by indenting it and so raising the design without cutting into
the metal, and can be used to enhance repousse or as independent decoration. |
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Designers |
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Designers will
design individual pieces to commission and advise on materials to use.
Designers can also advise and design an entire range for retail outlets. |
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Diamond Mounting |
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This is the
construction of the metal framework for an item of jewellery to a design
using sheet and wire of precious metal. All mounts are hand made. No
pre-formed parts or castings are used. When a mount has been made it will be
polished, given to a diamond setter to set the stones and then polished
again. |
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Diamond Setting |
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This is the
process of setting diamonds and other stones either precious or
semi-precious into a jewellery mount. There are many types of specialised
settings including claw setting, pavee setting, calibrated setting, illusion
setting, invisible setting and roman setting. |
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Enamelling |
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Enamel is simply
glass. A combination of quartz, soda ash with additional metallic oxides
which give the glass its colour. The enameller buys his colour in lump form,
and this lump or glass is ground under water using pestle and mortar until
the enamel is very fine and cleaned of all contaminates. The different types
of technique include basse taille, cloisonne, Plique-a-jour and Champleve.
The skill of the enameller is preparing the metal to take the glass and has
been perfected over many centuries. It is a traditional craft and the
methods and techniques have not changed for many centuries. Additionally
enamel portrait painting and general decoration with oxides on an enamelled
ground. |
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Engine Turners |
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A hand operated mechanical process to texture the surface of precious metal
with a calibrated design. This needs great skill and determination.
Sometimes known asguilloche, a patterned texture which often appears under
enamel. |
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Engraving |
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This is the
technique of decorating the surface of hard material either metal or
gemstones from the front by incised lines, characters, patterns or portraits
cut into the surface. Engraving falls into three main areas, inscriptions
and heraldic engraving, carving which includes seal engraving and engraving
for printing. |
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Goldsmith/Small Worker |
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The work of the
goldsmith covers all pieces and object d'art in gold. All items are made
totally by hand from flat sheet gold. Items include table lamps, picture
frames, clocks, boxes, and civic regalia. Increasingly popular are objects
made in the Fabergé style like Easter eggs. |
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Lapidaries |
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Lapidaries cut
and polish all precious and semi-precious stones. Stones can be cut to all
shapes and sizes to fit any mount. Advice will be given on re-cutting and re
polishing to enhance the appearance of each individual stone presented.
Repairs to Fabergé carving are also carried out. |
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Polishing |
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All items both
jewellery and object d'art need to be polished when all other processes of
manufacture have been completed. This is a highly skilled craft which can be
done by lathe or hand, using polishing brushes charged with emery powder and
oil or tripoli, or rouge after which each piece is finished by buffing. An
additional function of the skilled polisher is electroplating and gilding. |
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Silversmith |
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the work of
silversmith falls into two main areas, large work and small work. Large work
includes hollow domestic ware i.e. coffee pots, tea pots, large ceremonial
pieces and models of animals, military objects and other models in silver.
Small work includes boxes, compacts, lighters, civic regalia and other
object d'art. All items are made totally by hand from sheet precious metal.
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Wax Modelling |
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Free form
objects i.e. animals, jewellery and object d'art are general manufactured by
casting. Before casting takes place the object is modelled in wax. By using
the lost wax casting method even the finest detail can be archived in the
finished product.
The Institute
will advise retailers seeking the best designers, enamellers, engravers,
goldsmiths, lapidaries, mounters, silversmiths, setters and other skilled
craft workers.
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