As silver smithing and gem cutting played a role in Lord Wellesbourne, learning about them was necessary in order to present them realistically in the book. In this I was aided by two very talented and respected craftsmen, both of whom live and work in Maine.
For silver mithing, I was able to spend time with J A Henkel as he cast a silver armband. It was exciting, frightening, and thrilling.
I stood on a platform behind J A Henkel wearing eye and ear protection while the (electric) furnace roared. The air was scorching and smelt of burning metal, and I was very glad that not only that I didn't have to pump the bellows, I was able to stay well back from the heat.
J A Henkel worked with precision and skill, moving quickly as he stirred the metal till it melted then transferred it into the mold. Like Wellesbourne, I watched as J A Henkel lowered the mold into a barrel of water which roared, turning milky white. Like David Golding, Henkel offered to tip the contents of the mold into my hands. And when he did, the armband was beautiful and cold.
Thanks to J A Henkel suggestion (as well as instruction as how it was done), David Golding transferred his molten metal into the mold in the unconventional method that startled Wellesbourne--a method, Henkel told me, was first used by the Egyptians.
I stood on a platform behind J A Henkel wearing eye and ear protection while the (electric) furnace roared. The air was scorching and smelt of burning metal, and I was very glad that not only that I didn't have to pump the bellows, I was able to stay well back from the heat.
J A Henkel worked with precision and skill, moving quickly as he stirred the metal till it melted then transferred it into the mold. Like Wellesbourne, I watched as J A Henkel lowered the mold into a barrel of water which roared, turning milky white. Like David Golding, Henkel offered to tip the contents of the mold into my hands. And when he did, the armband was beautiful and cold.
Thanks to J A Henkel suggestion (as well as instruction as how it was done), David Golding transferred his molten metal into the mold in the unconventional method that startled Wellesbourne--a method, Henkel told me, was first used by the Egyptians.
For gem cutting, I was fortunate to witness one of the few gem cutters in Maine practice his art--or at least the last nearly hour of a five-plus hour process: Dennis Creaser of Creaser Jewelers.
Creaser was very generous with his time, describing in detail what he was doing as well the steps that came before. He described, as well, the methods used by a nineteenth-century gem cutter who didn't have the luxury of an electric lapidary wheel which provided its own water to cool the stone as it was cut.
Gems have been a part of Creaser's life since he was twelve. He has also been a participant in some notable events involving gems, such as cutting a "record-sized gem", recreating a "historic Maine brooch", as well as finding precious gems and stones in Maine quarries and more.
Creaser was very generous with his time, describing in detail what he was doing as well the steps that came before. He described, as well, the methods used by a nineteenth-century gem cutter who didn't have the luxury of an electric lapidary wheel which provided its own water to cool the stone as it was cut.
Gems have been a part of Creaser's life since he was twelve. He has also been a participant in some notable events involving gems, such as cutting a "record-sized gem", recreating a "historic Maine brooch", as well as finding precious gems and stones in Maine quarries and more.
