What I love about making in metal!

May 21

Vessels in progress. Copper, silver and brass — Vessels in progress, 2022.

I work with metal to create both decorative and functional objects. I explore the different qualities of silver, copper and brass to create mixed metal objects and jewellery. Read below what I love most about each of these metals.

I first worked with metal when I was at art college in Lincoln over 20 years ago! I was making a box out of wood and used some copper sheet to create metal inserts on the box sides. I bent the copper to create lines in it and then heated it…this was my WOW moment when the copper turned all the colours of the rainbow. I proceeded to look for a degree course where I could explore metal further, this came in the form of a BA:Hons Designed metalwork and Jewellery, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

I love working with metal, I like its durability and versatility. You can hammer, score, bend, solder, rivet, melt, reform, draw wire, twist, patina, polish, the list goes on! I only scratch the surface of techniques in my practice but I always aim to improve my technique and then exploit it.

Caulking the edge of a copper vessel in progress — Caulking the edge of a copper vessel.

Silver

Silver is extremely malleable and therefore well suited to the hammer forming techniques that I use. For hammer raising I usually use Britannia silver and for constructed pieces and jewellery I use sterling silver. Britannia (958) has slightly higher fine silver content than sterling (925) meaning it is more malleable and less likely to crack under the pressure!

One of my favourite things about working with silver is that you can get the pieces hallmarked, I love the idea that someone may find these pieces in 100 years time and be able to identify where, when and by whom they were made. I also love the contrast between the pearly white colour of silver when it comes out of the pickle and the deep rich tones of oxidisation, both of which look exquisite with a burnished or brushed back edge.

Copper

Copper was my first experience of working with metal that didn’t involve bits of wire to thread beads onto. I love the colours that you can achieve simply by heating it up but when I began to explore metal patina further in 2021, copper was the shining star! Due to its natural tarnishing tendencies this can be exploited in the most fascinating ways.

One of my favourite things about working with copper is its malleability and durability through the most brutal of techniques. Copper allows me to push the boundaries with hammer techniques that silver wouldn’t so easily. I also love the array of colours that can be achieved with copper and have been having a lot of fun exploring this!

Brass

Brass has previously been used in my work as additions and embellishments to silver and copper pieces. However whilst experimenting with metal patina and using different metals, brass was the biggest surprise. Due to its copper content it has worked really well in my explorations of colour but is different from the copper.

One of my favourite things about working with brass is its colour and strength, it works perfectly in contrast with the patinated silver and copper. It doesn’t lend itself to hammer forming in the same way that silver and copper do but I have started to make some shallow dish forms and will continue to push its limits.