SHOW: Broach 10
Title: Broach
General: This Cat broach has real whiskers, which cats shed
periodically. It took twelve years to collect enough whiskers
to make the first CAT! The eye is enamelled.
Material: Sterling Silver, Cat whiskers, Enamel.
Gem:
Method: Répoussé.
Finish: Burnished.
Mechanics: The whiskers are set in pockets of silicon sealant for
flexibility.
Designer: Walraven van Heeckeren.
Craftsman: Walraven van Heeckeren.
To Order, You either must have collected the whiskers your cat has shed,
or you will have to wait until mine has shed enough for another puss.
Price: AUS $ 1000.00.
STERLING SILVER is a binary Silver alloy consisting of:
925 parts/1000 Pure Silver and
75 parts/1000 Pure Copper.
Annealing temperature: 750 degrees Celsius.
Melting Temperature: 950 degrees Celsius.
Wal.
Enamel is a powdered glass, applied to the surface
of a metal, and is then fired in a kiln to fuse the
powdered glass into a solid mass. In the process
the enamel adheres to the metal.
Wal.
Répoussé is a method of sheet metal forming
where the metal is placed on a bowl of softish
pitch. The metal is then hit down into the pitch
with smooth punches. If the desired result needs
greater depth or more refining, the work may be
turned over and worked from the other side. The
pitch supports the metal where it is not being hit,
and in this way three dimensional shapes of great
depth can be achieved.
Some confusion exists in the English speaking
world, because the word "CHASING" is used for two
different techniques. In German the word for
chasing, is zisellieren, or chiselling. The object
to be decorated is placed on a quite hard "chasers
pitch", and is then worked with small cutting
punches. the look is somewhat like engraving.
Wal.
Burnishing is an old method of polishing metal. By rubbing
the surface of the metal to be polished with a
highly polished piece of steel, the surface itself
becomes polished.
Wal.