Goldsmith Metal Art Overview

Gold is, of course, valuable. But so are other metals like platinum and titanium. So what makes gold so special? What is it about gold that inspires such passion in the souls of men that wars have been fought over it, that is has claimed millions of lives, that economies have been based on it and that it has, since the beginning of history, been the embodiment of wealth? There are enough answers and reasons to fill many libraries, but the bottom like is that it is rare and it is beautiful, both in itself, as a softly glowing ingot, or when worked into pieces of fine art. Since the cost of gold does not allow for the production of large gold sculptures or other works of art, goldsmith metal art is to be found in the production of jewelry.

 

There are two types of goldsmith metal art. The first is the manufacture of what is called production jewelry – that is jewelry that is based on a design and then made in multiple sets, usually by a mechanical process. This may not sound artistic but the design has to be first made into a model upon which the finished product is based. The beauty of the finished product, no matter how good it appears in the initial drawings, is totally dependant on the quality of the model from which it is copied. The model is made by hand and the model maker is, without question, an artist.  And not just an artist but one who combines is artistic talents with the precision skills of a watchmaker. A piece of jewelry is continuously admired and studied and the slightest flaw will soon be observed and will diminish its value.

 

The second and more commonly accepted form of goldsmith metal art is that of the special order or commission metal artist. This artist produces unique one of a kind items either based on his own designs or those given to him or developed in collaboration with a customer. The process of creating individual pieces of goldsmith metal art can take different forms. The gold may be melted and then poured in specially made molds from which the cooled and hardened metal will take its shape. More intricate designs require the metal artist to cut and shape the metal into extremely intricate and complex patterns involving a precision rare in other forms of metal art. Not only must the must the finished item be a thing of beauty, but value of the metal from which it is made means that nothing must be wasted or lost in to manufacturing process. Gold that is lost in manufacturing adds to the cost of the finished work without adding to it physically.

 

Since much of gold jewelry involves the use of gemstones, the maker of goldsmith metal art needs to also ensure that the way the gems are set in the gold are part of the design and also that the gems are securely held in place and will not fall out.