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| Techniques |
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| Metal Engraving |
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The engraving technique is used for the decoration of the surfaces of
objects that have been made by hammering or casting. The desired design
is engraved on the metal with grooves whose forms and sizes depend on
the shape of the different tools used. The principal engraving
techniques are chiselling or engraving.
The chisel
This tool comes in many forms and is not used for cutting, but is
hit by a hammer to lower the surface of the metal without actually
removing any of it. A rigid but pliable support, generally of pitch,
should be placed underneath the metal plate to prevent it from breaking
under the blows of the hammer.
The graving tool or "bulino"
This is a sharp steel tool fitted with a wooden handle that makes
it easier to exert the pressure of the hand when carrying out the
engraving. The graving tool produces a sharp cut, while the very
similar burin or "ciappola" tool comes in various shapes (rounded,
flat, lined) to create different effects.
More noticeable decorative effects can also be achieved by using the
damascening and niello techniques, where the areas engraved with the
graving tool and burin are filled in with other materials.
Damascening
This is a kind of metal inlay that is carried out by inserting a
fine metal plate (cold) into a groove scraped out of a differently
coloured metal - for example a gold thread on a silver surface - and
then beating it in.
NielloThis
type of decoration consists in filling in an engraving with
an alloy obtained by a fusion of silver, copper, tin and lead (niello).
Once the mixture has cooled, the face of the plate is carefully
polished to bring out the brownish semi-opaque design on the paler and
shiny background of the precious metal.
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