A week of silversmithing

At HPSS we join two subjects together to make a Module.

Our Learning Objective for Technology for term 1 2016 was:

To explore by investigating the nature and principles of design in a range of contexts

Our Big Picture: Identity of Design: Principles & Elements of Design (Aesthetics & Function, Fitness for Purpose, Analysis & Evaluation)

I thought that a really neat way of looking at the Elements of Function, would be to look at the Properties of Materials. In the NZ Curriculum, Technological Products (Technological Knowledge) focuses on this area.

In our speed dating session, I discovered that Science have a similiar focus in the Curriculum strands. So we teamed up and thought hey, how cool would it be to do a module that investigates materials. How about jewellery?

So I booked myself in to a week at Peter Minturn Goldsmith School

Here's what we did:

1# Extruded silver using rollers.

Material properties: Ductility

2# Annealed the extruded piece by heating it to almost melting point, then pickling it.

The Science: This process is used to realign the molecules which 'softens' the metal

3# Curved the piece of silver into a ring. This involved a number of different forming techniques.

Material properties: Malleability

4# Soldered the ends together (later I soldered in the setting for the gem)

The Science: I'm not sure, but maybe something around materials' states...

5# Filed, sanded and polished

Material properties: Lustre and texture

This is my ring:

I also made this teapot pendant with a twisted handle and a domed body.