Sunday, October 1, 2017

My First Assignment in Metals Class in Art School



This was the first project I made in a metals class in art school. The assignment was to fabricate something in metal. Using forming and soldering techniques.  I chose to make a 1: 12 scale teapot on a stand.

The stand was made of sterling silver square wire because I needed that gauge and sterling was all I had. The flower cup holder was cut out of a dapped piece of sterling with a jewelers saw. Then the stand was oxidized to make it look like wrought iron.

The body of the teapot is in brass and was made of two dapped pieces soldered together. I wanted a tapered hollow spout and the only way I knew to make it at that time was to electroform it. I made a wax interior shape and painted a conductor on it. Then literally grew copper over the wax. Once I had enough copper on the wax I was able to melt out the wax and solder the spout on the brass pot. Everything brass had to be gold plated. The burner was made out of telescoping tubes and sheet brass. The wood knob and handle are ebony.

My father gave me the life size version of this piece for my birthday. For Christmas I gave him back the miniature I made of it.

More 40 years later this first project makes me cringe a bit. I made five of these pieces. Dearing and Tracy (miniature dealers from the 1970's)  sold the other four for me.

28 comments:

  1. Me encanta. Un trabajo excepcional.

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  2. That is a lovely piece....you make it sound so easy to make, although I doubt very much it was!
    Don't you think it would be fun to know where the other 4 found homes.....the world is a terribly small place these days, perhaps someone knows who has it in their collection.
    Linda x

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    1. Thank you Linda.
      I do know where one went. Ernie Levy, who made very fine miniature furniture at that time bought one. Sadly, I think he has passed on now.

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  3. You might cringe but as someone who can't even solder electrical wires I'm terribly impressed with how it looks.

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  4. Pour une première réalisation c'est une réussite. Félicitations!

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  5. Why aren't I suprized that you picked such a challenging piece for your first metal work project.

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    1. Thank you!
      I had taken a metals classes in my high school's art department. For the most part I was working with wax and casting metal at that point. :-)

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  6. I can't imagine why you would cringe - your work is just exquisite.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary. I think it is because I would make it differently now.

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  7. Hello Catherine,
    It is such a charming piece. I know many people who would love to own one...both in real life and miniature scale.
    Big hug
    Giac

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    1. Thank you Giac. I loved the antique RL one my dad gave me. I still have it of course. ;-)

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  8. ho , c' est un travail incroyable. je savais que vous travaillez le métal mais je ne savais pas comment . c'est une pièce magnifique . votre père a du être très fier de vous . c'est un souvenir magnifique .
    j 'espere que vous allez avoir beaucoup de temps pour faire des merveilles en miniature . vous avez beaucoup de talent .

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  9. Bonjour Catherine,
    Je vous remercie pour vos mots sur mon très vieux travail.
    Mon père était certainement amusé lorsqu'il a ouvert son cadeau. C'était amusant de lui dire que j'ai accidentellement rétréci mon cadeau d'anniversaire. XXX

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  10. Thank you Claude. Very old work though. ;-)

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  11. I love the "swap" you made with your father, Catherine, which was no doubt a proud moment for both of you! In retrospect, your kettle may not meet your own standards of excellence today, (although it looks pretty magnificent to me) but I would imagine that you and your father will treasure it the most, because of al of the love that went into it and why.

    elizabeth

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  12. Thank you Elizabeth. You are so right. It is something full of memories. Which makes it a favorite particularly now that my father is gone.

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  13. Such a lot of work, and neatly done too! Isn't it wonderful when one can look back on a project, and see how much you have progressed?

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  14. Thank you Megan.
    Considering how long ago I made that it would be VERY sad if I had not progressed. haha ;-)

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  15. I cannot think of how making it any better although I know that you are perfectly aware of it. It's a gorgeous piece ! I do love it to bits.

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  16. Thank you Rosanna. I loved the design when my dad gave it to me for my birthday. I might make a 1:12 scale version again someday. Although a bit differently. :-)

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  17. Good Heavens! That is your First assignment??? It is Awesome! Wow! What a beautiful tea-kettle.... and in mini too! Wow!

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  18. Thank you for your kind words Betsy.

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  19. Absolutely fascinating hearing how you made this beautiful piece! Thank you for posting this.

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