A silversmith is a metalworker who crafts objects from silver. The terms silversmith and goldsmith are not exact synonyms, as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are (or were, at least) largely the same but differed in that the end product may vary greatly (as may the scale of objects created).
Paul Revere with a silver teapot and some of his engraving tools
In the ancient Near East (as holds true today), the value of silver to gold was lower, allowing a silversmith to produce objects and store these as stock. Historian Jack Ogden states that, according to an edict written by Diocletian in 301 A.D., a silversmith was able to charge 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, or 300 denarii for material produce (per Roman pound). At that time, guilds of silversmiths formed to arbitrate disputes, protect its members' welfare, and educate the public of the trade.[2]
Silversmiths in medieval Europe and England formed guilds and transmitted their tools and techniques to new generations via the apprentice tradition. Silverworking guilds often maintained consistency and upheld standards at the expense of innovation. Beginning in the 17th century, artisans emigrated to America and experienced fewer restrictions. As a result, silverworking was one of the trades that helped to inaugurate the technological and industrial history of the United States silverworking shift to industrialization.
Very exquisite and distinctly designed silverware, especially the artisanal craft that goes by the name of Swami Silver, emerged from the stable of watchmaker-turned-silversmith P.Orr and Sons in the South Indian city of Madras (now Chennai) during the British rule in 1875.``
Silversmiths saw or cut specific shapes from sterling and fine silver sheet metal and bar stock; they then use hammers to form the metal over anvils and stakes. Silver is hammered cold (at room temperature). As the metal is hammered, bent, and worked, it 'work-hardens'. Annealing is the heat-treatment used to make the metal soft again. If metal is work-hardened, and not annealed occasionally, the metal will crack and weaken the work.
Silversmiths can use casting techniques to create knobs, handles and feet for the hollowware they are making.
After forming and casting, the various pieces may be assembled by soldering and riveting.
During most of their history, silversmiths used charcoal or coke fired forges, and lung-powered blow-pipes for soldering and annealing. Modern silversmiths commonly use gas burning torches as heat sources. A newer method is laser beam welding.
Silversmiths may also work with copper and brass, especially when making practice pieces, due to those materials having similar working properties and being more affordable than silver.
^Garrad & Co. was founded by George Wickes in London in 1722 and is still operating.
^Reid & Sons was founded in 1788 in Newcastle and is still operating.
Referencesedit
^Marcin Latka. "Silver sarcophagus of Saint Stanislaus". artinpl. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
^Ogden, Jack (1992). Ancient Jewellery. University of California Press. Retrieved 2 July 2023 – via Google Books.
^Brain, Charles. "Pickling Notes". The Ganoksin Project. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
^Morgan, Major H. Sandford (17 October 1931). "Secrets in Silver – An Ancient Handicraft". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^"Portrait of the Amara Silversmith's leader, Zahrun". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^"Advance of the Crusaders into Mesopotamia | Note: name misspelled as 'Zahroam of Amara'". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^هيام الخياط (19 January 2016). "زهرون عمارة صائغ الملوك السلاطين". Mandaean Associations Union. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
^"زهرون عمارة .. عمل "ارگيلة " من الفضة للسلطان عبدالحميد". algardenia.com. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Silversmiths.
Society of American Silversmiths
Historical works
George E. Gee, The Silversmith's Handbook (1921)
Wilson, H., Silverwork and Jewelry: a text-book for students and workers in metal (1912)
February 15, 2024
silversmith, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2010, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Silversmith news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message A silversmith is a metalworker who crafts objects from silver The terms silversmith and goldsmith are not exact synonyms as the techniques training history and guilds are or were at least largely the same but differed in that the end product may vary greatly as may the scale of objects created Embossed silver sarcophagus of Saint Stanislaus in the Wawel Cathedral created in the main centers of 17th century European silversmithery Augsburg and Gdansk 1 Contents 1 History 2 Tools materials and techniques 3 Notable and historical silversmiths 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory edit nbsp Paul Revere with a silver teapot and some of his engraving toolsIn the ancient Near East as holds true today the value of silver to gold was lower allowing a silversmith to produce objects and store these as stock Historian Jack Ogden states that according to an edict written by Diocletian in 301 A D a silversmith was able to charge 75 100 150 200 250 or 300 denarii for material produce per Roman pound At that time guilds of silversmiths formed to arbitrate disputes protect its members welfare and educate the public of the trade 2 Silversmiths in medieval Europe and England formed guilds and transmitted their tools and techniques to new generations via the apprentice tradition Silverworking guilds often maintained consistency and upheld standards at the expense of innovation Beginning in the 17th century artisans emigrated to America and experienced fewer restrictions As a result silverworking was one of the trades that helped to inaugurate the technological and industrial history of the United States silverworking shift to industrialization Very exquisite and distinctly designed silverware especially the artisanal craft that goes by the name of Swami Silver emerged from the stable of watchmaker turned silversmith P Orr and Sons in the South Indian city of Madras now Chennai during the British rule in 1875 Tools materials and techniques edit nbsp Dish made by hand hammeringsaw jeweler s saw snips flat file jewelers files planishing hammer raising hammer cross pein hammer ball pein hammer anvils stakes swage blocks riveting silver hard solder flux borax boric acid torch or blow pipe pickle dilute sulphuric acid or organic acids which are used to remove firescale 3 buffing wheels polishing compounds chasing repousse engraving Silversmiths saw or cut specific shapes from sterling and fine silver sheet metal and bar stock they then use hammers to form the metal over anvils and stakes Silver is hammered cold at room temperature As the metal is hammered bent and worked it work hardens Annealing is the heat treatment used to make the metal soft again If metal is work hardened and not annealed occasionally the metal will crack and weaken the work Silversmiths can use casting techniques to create knobs handles and feet for the hollowware they are making After forming and casting the various pieces may be assembled by soldering and riveting During most of their history silversmiths used charcoal or coke fired forges and lung powered blow pipes for soldering and annealing Modern silversmiths commonly use gas burning torches as heat sources A newer method is laser beam welding Silversmiths may also work with copper and brass especially when making practice pieces due to those materials having similar working properties and being more affordable than silver nbsp Band made of silverNotable and historical silversmiths editMain page Category Silversmiths CompaniesGarrard amp Co Hersey amp Son a Phipps amp Robinson Reid amp Sons b PeopleAcragas Kurt Aepli Zahroun Amara world renowned Mandaean niello silversmith People that are known to have owned his silver nielloware include Stanley Maude Winston Churchill the Bahraini royal family Egyptian King Farouk the Iraqi royal family including kings Faisal I and Ghazi and the British royal family including the Prince of Wales who became Edward VIII 4 5 6 7 8 Hester Bateman Peter Bentzon the only early American silversmith of African ancestry whose silver has been identified Jocelyn Burton Benvenuto Cellini Stephen Emery early American silversmith Thomas Germain Francois Thomas Germain Karl Gustav Hansen Danish pioneer of Scandinavian silversmith design John Hull Treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Isaac Hutton Georg Jensen Sampson Mordan Jean Valentin Morel French jeweler and craftsman Henry Petzal Paul Revere American silversmith manufacturer and patriot Joseph Richardson Sr and Joseph Richardson Jr American silversmiths based in Philadelphia Atsidi Sani Old Smith in English the first known Navajo silversmith Alfredo Sciarrotta Sequoyah Cherokee silversmith inventor of the Cherokee syllabary Alice Sheene Robert Shepherd and William Boyd Robert Welch Edward Winlsow early American silversmithSee also editYemenite silversmithing Mouza Sulaiman Mohamed Al Wardi GoldsmithNotes edit Garrad amp Co was founded by George Wickes in London in 1722 and is still operating Reid amp Sons was founded in 1788 in Newcastle and is still operating References edit Marcin Latka Silver sarcophagus of Saint Stanislaus artinpl Retrieved 3 August 2019 Ogden Jack 1992 Ancient Jewellery University of California Press Retrieved 2 July 2023 via Google Books Brain Charles Pickling Notes The Ganoksin Project Retrieved 15 June 2013 Morgan Major H Sandford 17 October 1931 Secrets in Silver An Ancient Handicraft The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 9 December 2021 Portrait of the Amara Silversmith s leader Zahrun Australian War Memorial Retrieved 9 December 2021 Advance of the Crusaders into Mesopotamia Note name misspelled as Zahroam of Amara Imperial War Museum Retrieved 9 December 2021 هيام الخياط 19 January 2016 زهرون عمارة صائغ الملوك السلاطين Mandaean Associations Union Retrieved 27 January 2022 زهرون عمارة عمل ارگيلة من الفضة للسلطان عبدالحميد algardenia com 20 February 2018 Retrieved 27 January 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Silversmiths Society of American Silversmiths Historical works George E Gee The Silversmith s Handbook 1921 Wilson H Silverwork and Jewelry a text book for students and workers in metal 1912 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silversmith amp oldid 1191838560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
