Silver Art Fabrication

Organic materials are often used as the starting point for silver art designs created out of fine silver. One method is to take a mold of an object, then place metal clay into the mold. A second method is to form cotton paper into the general shape of the desired piece. The paper, which will later disappear, is painted with a paste material containing fine silver particles suspended in yet another organic material. Shrinkage must be considered in the design process.

Surface designs are placed on, or embedded into, the metal clay material using objects that create shapes and patterns. Natural or synthetic stones can be added to the piece. Filing and sanding before the metal clay is fired is more efficient than after firing, when the piece has become fine silver metal.

The organic material is fired in a furnace in order to "burn out" all organic material and leave only the fine silver. Alternatively, a torch can be used for the same results. Below is a picture of a furnace.

When cooled, the unfinished jewelry pieces are filed and sanded if necessary, then polished and burnished. Color can be added via a silver blackening or liver of sulfur treatment. Polishing and burnishing may again be performed in order to achieve the desired look.


Photos by Sherry Cordova and Vintage Artifacts