antique silver decoration techniques

A major attraction of antique silver is the elaborate and elegant decorations created by silversmiths.

Most of the decorations on modern industrial products are done with machines, but most of the decorations back then were done by hand using tools such as chisels and hammers.

Here we have summarized the decorative techniques and methods used to decorate antique silver.

Typical decorative techniques

1. engraving

This is a method of scraping the surface of silver to create detailed patterns.
This is a typical decorative technique that has been widely used on European silverware since the Middle Ages.
There are deeply carved relief types and shallow and delicate types.
Because the surface is scraped, no decorations are visible on the back side, unlike hammered.

2. Launch (Chasing/Reposé)

This is a decorative technique in which a three-dimensional pattern is created by creating indentations on the surface by hitting it with a hammer.
Unlike engraving, the silver is not cut away, and the decorations can be seen on the back.
The technique of hitting it from the front and sinking it is called " chasing ", and the technique of hitting it from the back and pushing it out is called " reposé ".
A variety of three-dimensional decorations are created by combining these two techniques.

3. Openwork carving (piercing)

This is a technique in which decorative patterns are created by drilling holes into silverware.
At first, holes were made using a hammer and chisel, but from around the late 18th century, it became possible to use a scroll saw to perform very delicate work.
This technique is often seen on baskets and bowls.

Other decorative techniques

4. bright cut

It is a type of engraving and a decorative technique commonly seen in England during the 18th and 19th centuries.
By cutting the grooves diagonally with a sharp blade, it looks sparkling every time you change the angle.

5. Niero (black gold inlay)

This technique involves pouring heated black alloy onto engraved silver, polishing it, and then inlaying it.
This technique is traditionally used in Russia and the Middle East, but is also occasionally seen in Europe.
The combination of silver and black can create a beautiful and unique expression.

6. filigree

It is a very delicate technique in which patterns are created by winding silver thread-like.
This technique is often used for jewelry, but it may also be used as an accent on cutlery.

summary

We have introduced only the most typical ones here, but there are many more detailed techniques, and decorations are created by combining them.

The decorations, most of which are hand-crafted by craftsmen with an incredible amount of time and skill, continue to fascinate us even after more than 100 years.

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