Decoration techniques for silver:fusing and reticulation

With these two techniques we use heat to decorate the upper surface of the silver. The necessary steps are required to prepare the metal.

For reticulation we use heat to melt the upper layer of the silver. By using more than one burner, you can influence the patterns. For fusing, we melt gold in the top layer of a silver sheet without using any solder. In this way we can create gold drawings on a silver background.

The first day we focus on creating different sheets and wires. On day two, you make a design in which you will incorporate the sheet and wire. You will be guided step by step in the creation of your jewel.

Included:

• silver plate (value: € 75)
• use workshop material
• instruction leaflet
• drink and biscuit

To bring yourself:

• left-overs from silver sheet and wire
• metal filings (silver or gold)
• nails in different shapes and sizes
• a soft charcoal block
• gold sheet and wire of 1 mm thickness, the amount depends upon how much you want to use (ex. sheet 2 by 2 cm, wire: 5 cm length)
• pencil
• paper
• an apron
• conventional tools (for filing, sawing, drilling and soldering)

[img, / img / workshops / descr / reticulatie.jpg; pic] [img, / img / workshops / descr / fusing.jpg; pic]

- Left: reticulation, right: fusing -