Decorative and Structural Granulation in Larger Silver Artefacts

Abstract

Granulation is an ancient technique in goldsmiths' art where little balls decorate surfaces with ornamental and figurative patterns. Because of its specific nature, granulation was, and still is, rarely used in a larger scale. This paper suggests two different applications of silver granulation in larger scale: first in the well-known method as a decorative technique and second as a constructive technique, where the little granules build the artefact and form structure and decoration at the same time. Both methods have specific problems which will be discussed and unraveled. The development of new tools and the entire working processes will be presented—the production of larger granules, the silver alloys used, the application of the copper (oxide), and the reaction-soldering of silver—in both decorative and constructive ways.