| is, of course, valuable. But so are other metals like | | | | jewelry is continuously admired and studied and the |
| platinum and titanium. So what makes gold so special? | | | | slightest flaw will soon be observed and will diminish its |
| What is it about gold that inspires such passion in the | | | | value. |
| souls of men that wars have been fought over it, that | | | | The second and more commonly accepted form of |
| is has claimed millions of lives, that economies have | | | | goldsmith metal art is that of the special order or |
| been based on it and that it has, since the beginning of | | | | commission metal artist. This artist produces unique |
| history, been the embodiment of wealth? There are | | | | one of a kind items either based on his own designs or |
| enough answers and reasons to fill many libraries, but | | | | those given to him or developed in collaboration with a |
| the bottom like is that it is rare and it is beautiful, both in | | | | customer. The process of creating individual pieces of |
| itself, as a softly glowing ingot, or when worked into | | | | goldsmith metal art can take different forms. The gold |
| pieces of fine art. Since the cost of gold does not | | | | may be melted and then poured in specially made |
| allow for the production of large gold sculptures or | | | | molds from which the cooled and hardened metal will |
| other works of art, goldsmith metal art is to be found in | | | | take its shape. More intricate designs require the metal |
| the production of jewelry. | | | | artist to cut and shape the metal into extremely |
| There are two types of goldsmith metal art. The first | | | | intricate and complex patterns involving a precision |
| is the manufacture of what is called production jewelry | | | | rare in other forms of metal art. Not only must the |
| – that is jewelry that is based on a design and | | | | must the finished item be a thing of beauty, but value |
| then made in multiple sets, usually by a mechanical | | | | of the metal from which it is made means that nothing |
| process. This may not sound artistic but the design has | | | | must be wasted or lost in to manufacturing process. |
| to be first made into a model upon which the finished | | | | Gold that is lost in manufacturing adds to the cost of |
| product is based. The beauty of the finished product, | | | | the finished work without adding to it physically. |
| no matter how good it appears in the initial drawings, is | | | | Since much of gold jewelry involves the use of |
| totally dependant on the quality of the model from | | | | gemstones, the maker of goldsmith metal art needs to |
| which it is copied. The model is made by hand and the | | | | also ensure that the way the gems are set in the gold |
| model maker is, without question, an artist. And not just | | | | are part of the design and also that the gems are |
| an artist but one who combines is artistic talents with | | | | securely held in place and will not fall out. |
| the precision skills of a watchmaker. A piece of | | | | |