Another newbie.

[weodmonath]

Good morning, all.

Though a scientist by training, I am fascinated by Anglo-Saxon history. About a year ago, inspired by the Anglo-Saxon and Viking exhibits in the Ashmolean Museum, I decided that I would write a novel about an Anglo-Saxon gold and silversmith. Having plunged in and written three chapters, I realised that I knew nothing about the subject, and that I would have to try to learn something of the craft if the book were to proceed any further.

I acquired a few basic tools and items of equipment, and after a few hours of cursing, I managed to cast a silver signet ring. I then had a try at vitreous enamelling, since this appears to have been quite popular in mediaeval times.

The book has made no further progress, but I now have some idea how things were made, having succeeded in making several rings, enamelled escutcheons, and crude replicas of the Alfred Jewel and the Minster Lovell Jewel. Well, I think they are crude, but friends say they are 'astonishing'.

I should like to learn more about the techniques employed by mediaeval jewellers, so if anybody can point me at suitable sources, I would be most grateful.

The Alfred replica - vitreous enamel on etched copper, bronze and copper-gilt. The 'crystal' is resin.




The Minster Lovell replica - bronze clay and vitreous on copper.

[Paul Kay]

Wow, just wow! As a couple of your early pieces in this game, far more than astonishing. Bold and victorious I'd say, I was probably still at the tube set stacking ring stage after a year! You've hit a steep hill and charged up it. Alfred would have wanted you leading one of his warbands as much as for making his jewels.

[Dennis]

You might research forged penannular brooches. Most of what you need is on line, particularly U Tube. Dennis.

[ps_bond]

I should like to learn more about the techniques employed by mediaeval jewellers, so if anybody can point me at suitable sources, I would be most grateful.

While strictly he's outside the period, Benvenuto Cellini is often cited as a source for more traditional techniques. I'm trying to see if I can find a PDF of his Treatises on Goldsmithing on Archive.org (preferably in English...) but I haven't spotted one yet. Amazon sell it.

ETA - found it, needed to refne my search: https://archive.org/details/b2488697x

[weodmonath]

Thanks, all. I am encouraged. I'll carry on...

Peter Bond - many thanks for the pointer to Cellini's Treatises. Just the sort of reference material I am looking for.