Experiences Arts Experiences Jewellery Setting and Enamelling
| Jewellery Setting and Enamelling |
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COURSES AT ARTS IN SILVER, FEBRUARY 2009, BY GILL GLYN-JONES AND LINDA JONES On 23rd February 2009, Mrs Gill Glyn-Jones visited Arts in Silver jewellery manufacturing studio from Johannesburg to begin a three-day setting course. The studio, owned by Mrs Deborah Wernberg, a life-long professional silversmith and jewellery designer, presently operates a training scheme which emphasises the training of historically and previously disadvantaged persons, currently with the assistance of the eScape route project funded by the European Union’s Thina Sinako Provincial LED Support Programme in the Eastern Cape. The first step in the training course was tool preparation. Deborah had purchased all the necessary setting paraphernalia in advance and Gill brought extra tools in case of an oversight. Trainers and students each ground a graver to suit their individual hand size and Gill demonstrated each move and angle until all had grasped the technique. The students had made several rings the week before with simple bezel settings and on the first and second days these rings were set with coloured gemstones. These were completed on the afternoon of day-two. The same afternoon claw-crown settings were made which Gill showed the group how to fit, place, set and secure faceted crystals. The jewellery students have been with Deborah since the beginning of June 2008. They have mastered all the basic techniques required to manufacture hand-crafted jewellery. The setting course taught by Gill added greatly to their skill and ability to create unique well finished, beautiful pieces. The fantastic course was enjoyed by all. On 26th February 2009 the group was joined by Mrs Linda Jones from Liverpool, England. Linda is an accredited teacher in manufacturing jewellery. She came to share her knowledge, expertise and experience in glass enamelling on copper and silver. Under Linda’s watchful eye, the students experimented with a variety of different coloured enamels, and learned the basics including reverse-enamelling, a vital part of most projects. All learned a number of critical concepts such as the timing of each firing and estimating kiln temperatures. Linda also taught such further techniques such as the inclusion in the enamelling process of gold leaf and silver wire, as well as multiple firings of single objects in order to achieve different colours and patterns What a wonderful experience it was for all who were able to see results happening in mere minutes. It was so exciting and has opened a whole new vista of possibilities which Arts in Silver will experiment with over the next few months. Deborah Wernberg extends her grateful thanks to Gill and Linda for their patience and for providing this wonderful opportunity |