An adventure in metalsmithing
For the last few weeks I have been working on a much bigger project than usual, as much as anything to prove to myself that I haven't forgotten all the silversmithing I learned at college all those years ago.
I started with a few doodles which became a plaster maquette made from polyfilla which was all I had to hand.
This is the plaster bird without it's beak I had to cut it off as it was getting in the way when I was fitting the brass bottom bowl up against it to check for size.
Having carved the bird I cut a circle out of brass and started hammering it to shape..............
I dont have any proper stakes and had to nip out to B & Q for a substitute raising hammer as the one I bought years ago has disappeared.So armed with my small cross pein hammer and a variety of doming punches I began , here follows for those of you interested some photos of the results of the process of raising and forming follow in order. Click on the photos to see them larger.
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| This is the basic raising for the underside of my bird. |
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| Then refining the shape, narrowing the base and making the bowl deeper |
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| Then I formed the neck and underneath of the tail, followed by a spot of planishing to smooth the finish |
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| The top of the bird, basic forming done by hammering into a lead block, two flaps pulled round
to encircle the beak | |
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| The two parts fitted together and feathery bits cut out |
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| The beak made from copper is inserted to try the fit and more feather shapes cut in the upper tail |
At this point my camera battery ran out, I couldn't find the battery charger and for some reason it didn't occur to me to use my other camera......so I'm afraid how I did the legs, eyes, ears,wings and extra bits of tail I will leave to your imagination. And, eh voila.... here is my little bird all assembled and standing on his wooden perch.
I'm not sure what kind of a bird it is , a finch perhaps, I think they can have quite chunky beaks.
I really enjoyed the challenge of making this and am I have to admit quite pleased with the finished article. What do you think of my LBJ? (bird watching term for unidentified small plain bird)
What do I think? I think it is an amazing creature from a very good fantasy book. I haven't decided from which one, but I have never seen anything of that sort so obviously it is from a different realm. Seriously, I have difficulties finding the right words. Calling it 'pretty' or 'cute' would be a profanation. It is truly beautiful, though in a somewhat grotesque way. I hope to see more pictures - good and large pictures, please.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid you will get tired of my magnanimous praises, even though I try to be reserved. But I really love what you do. As a daughter and granddaughter of artists and designers, I am not that easy to impress. World is full of amateurishly made items (in the bad sense of the word), and yours are both expertly made and have a character and soul.
When you get tired of me, just tell me to disappear :) I will become silent for a while.
I took these pictures of the finished bird in a huury late at night the day before sending it off to uor local museum to be entered in the local art and craft exhibition, which I am pleased to say it has been accepted. I'll add some pictures of the flowers etc around the base next week
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I would like to see more pictures, the bird is amazing. I love it from beak to the paws.
ReplyDeleteWell, congratulations again Mandy. The illustrations of all the intricate and exacting - and painstaking - work that goes on!!!!!!!Words fail. I just love this little, finely detailed bird.
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