rials: Sterling silver and fine copper
Dimensions: 7 inches x 9 inches x 3.5 inches deep
This Sheffield Plate bowl was born of the furnace and the forge, using the techniques of the "Sheffield Plate" workers of 18th century England to create a contemporary piece of metal work. The sterling silver was fused to fine copper in a furnace to create a silver/copper laminated billet. The silver is about 10th the thickness of the copper. The billet was then beaten, forged and annealed to ensure perfect joining of the two metals. It was then rolled out a bit, the pattern was then cut through the silver layer using a lathe. It was then rolled out again into a sheet, by which time the copper had filled the cuts created on the lathe. The sheet was then formed into the bowl you see here using a boxwood doming mallet and a leather sandbag. The outside shape was not trimmed and the surface was gently scoured to a fine matte finish, the bowl was then gently heated in a flame to oxidize the copper and bring out the pattern. It has no function other than being decorative, I hope you find it interesting.
Photo credit: Hamish Bowie
Hamish Ian Cameron Bowie
Birmingham, UK
Jewellery designer/retired teacher and metal-smith with 50 years experience. I am still making drawing ideas and researching. The items I am submitting are born of the furnace, forge and fire. They represent the latest of my experimental work in diffusion bonding, inspired by the techniques of the 18th century English Sheffield Plate workers based in Birmingham and Sheffield.
rials: Sterling silver and fine copper
Dimensions: 7 inches x 9 inches x 3.5 inches deep
This Sheffield Plate bowl was born of the furnace and the forge, using the techniques of the "Sheffield Plate" workers of 18th century England to create a contemporary piece of metal work. The sterling silver was fused to fine copper in a furnace to create a silver/copper laminated billet. The silver is about 10th the thickness of the copper. The billet was then beaten, forged and annealed to ensure perfect joining of the two metals. It was then rolled out a bit, the pattern was then cut through the silver layer using a lathe. It was then rolled out again into a sheet, by which time the copper had filled the cuts created on the lathe. The sheet was then formed into the bowl you see here using a boxwood doming mallet and a leather sandbag. The outside shape was not trimmed and the surface was gently scoured to a fine matte finish, the bowl was then gently heated in a flame to oxidize the copper and bring out the pattern. It has no function other than being decorative, I hope you find it interesting.
Photo credit: Hamish Bowie
Hamish Ian Cameron Bowie
Birmingham, UK
Jewellery designer/retired teacher and metal-smith with 50 years experience. I am still making drawing ideas and researching. The items I am submitting are born of the furnace, forge and fire. They represent the latest of my experimental work in diffusion bonding, inspired by the techniques of the 18th century English Sheffield Plate workers based in Birmingham and Sheffield.