Eastern Chasing and Repoussé with Victoria Lansford (online), hosted by Metalwerx – Tues/Fri, October 12 -29, 2021

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In this special live, online edition of Victoria’s popular workshop, learn the secret of hammering metal into any shape or design. Whether high or low relief, traditional or contemporary styles, the technique of Eastern repoussé and chasing encompasses it all. This is the type of repousse used by the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Scythian metalsmiths to achieve works of unsurpassed beauty, and the technique Victoria has employed for everything from stunning jewelry to huge sliding doors on a bespoke super yacht.

Eastern repoussé is an easily learnable system of exact how, where, when, with which tool, and how hard to strike your metal to create the designs you want. It empowers you to achieve exquisite detail, unsurpassed depth, and multiple levels of relief. By working on a jewelry scale, you will gain a deep knowledge of the process that can be used on any scale whether wearable, functional, or sculptural. We will also touch on the possibilities of dimensional forms such as rings and bracelets as well as using this process with alternative materials, such as mokume gane and bi-metal.

This extended virtual workshop format is designed to help you achieve mastery of this technique. All class time will be devoted to learning and working in the Eastern repoussé process (not tool making). The demos are in 4K so you can see in magnified, lifelike detail everything that is happening. You are also encouraged to turn your device on your own bench so Victoria can coach you through the nuances of hammering to get the results in your own work that you desire.

Through her award winning artwork, publications, and tools, Victoria has generated an international revival of nearly lost, old world metalsmithing techniques. Her artwork ranges from art jewelry and hand illuminated artist books to bespoke architectural metal installations. It has been featured in numerous exhibits and publications, including Metalsmith, Jewelry Artist, the Lark 500 series, Chasing & Repoussé, and in her internationally acclaimed video and book series, Metal Techniques of Bronze Age Masters.

Techniques covered include: 

• Laying out and transferring your design
• How to use your chasing tools and hammer effectively to acheive your design
• Become accomplished at chasing line work that can stand alone or make your relief stand out
• Chasing low relief forms
• Chasing high relief forms
• Creating fine detail with your chasing
• How chasing and repousse work together to create forms
• Finishing your chased forms

This class is suitable for anyone with beginning level jewelry skills, including knowing how to solder and anneal with a torch. You do not need any previous repousse or forging experience.

Please visit Metalwerx’s class page for the supply list and to register.