Hand Forging for the Silversmith

Tutor in Residence

David Clayton, Brisbane

David has spent nearly all his working life as a silversmith, restoring or making new silver ware. For the past 20 years he has been one of the few craftsmen to have specialised in hand forging flatware, and been privileged to have received instruction from the most outstanding flatware maker of the modern age, Richard Cook, in London. He is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, the Queensland Art Gallery and in the collections of James Cook University and Pope Benedict XVI. In 2010 he was the Jewellers Association of Australia Silver Design Award Winner (including hollow ware).

Course Synopsis

Expanding the options for hand forging is the aim of this workshop. Beginning with forging flatware to understand the movement of metal, this workshop will discuss and demonstrate where forging can be expanded to include wearable objects and sculptural table-pieces.

This is an introductory class that explores an exciting aspect of the silversmith’s repertoire whereby articles are created from a single bar of material using only hammers and an anvil, without any soldering. Techniques and design considerations will be explained and demonstrated, and a range of options for participants own projects will be discussed after the first exercises are completed.

The class will be fairly physically demanding in the early stages until the correct techniques are acquired. A degree of hammer experience would be preferable, but not essential.

Materials

$50.00 for copper, more if working in silver. Forging kit, if needed, can be purchased directly from David at the School for $170.00 or rented for $70.00. Students requiring a kit and/or silver will need to contact the tutor prior to the School – phone number and email will be provided. If students intend to use silver for their project please contact the tutor as early as possible to ensure availability – most silver bar will have to be produced to order and won’t be available off the shelf. Silver bar is at the students expense.

Your choices may be broadened or limited according to their budget, a materials list is provided as a guide.

Level

All levels

Enrolment

You are able to enrol on-line or an enrolment form is in pdf format for you to complete and either fax or post.