Is there an expert way to tell the difference between a high quality hand hammered finsh versus a machine hammered finish? Some hand or machine finishes are obvious due to crude technique. Machined finishes can also have repetitive patterns. There are however pieces that are perplexing to say the least. Is there a way to tell from the inside of the dimple pattern? Would some hand hammered pieces be rolled somehow to smooth out any crudeness? etc. etc. As a follow-up, does anyone have a good recommended reference on the tools and techniques of hammering or metalsmithing from the A&C period. I'm up on my wooodworking knowledge but the actual processes involved with A&C metal craft is something I want to dig in to some more.

Stonecat,

Machine finished surface texture is uniform and will repeat the texture over and over.

To straighten and flatten sheet that has been peened to give it texture a craftsman would anneal the metal first and then use a rawhide or non marring mallet to flatten it on a hard surface. There are several books written during the last century and reprinted recently. "Copper Work" by Augustus Rose and "Metalwork with Inexpensive Equipment" by Arthur Frank Payne are both excelent. I believe eBay has a seller that often offers these reprints for under $20.

Both Rose and Payne were influential instructors in metalwork. Rose even designed hammers for use in metalsmithing. Rose taught at Rhode Island School of Design.

Fred

Thanks Fred,

I guess I occaisionally have the problem of not being able to actually tell the difference, between hammered and machined, because sometimes the hand hammering is so darn good - an example would be the Nekrassoff bowl I posted, where the hammering is in near perfect rows, but I do know this one is hand done. Another example I have is a tankard, by Loveridge (English), and I can't tell and can't find any confirmation on his method.

Regarding the references, I almost had the Payne book ordered from Amazon before I figured I should ask here, because I assumed you would catch the message and have some ideas . Needless to say I found the eBay store "Gustav's Library" and ordered Payne, Rose (which is posted as a new release!) and this one as well:


They were all 15% off as well!

He has several other great period reprints, on everything from furniture (of course) to bungalow interiors, gardens, and even A&C kites, that you are unlikely to find anywhere as originals. If delivery goes smooth and I don't get hit with any of the fees/taxes that I thought free trade was supposed to eliminate I'll likely pick up some more.