1. The artisan who forms certain articles of gold and silver, is
called indifferently a goldsmith or a silversmith. The former
denomination is most commonly employed in England, and the latter, in
the United States.
2. The most common subjects of manufacture by the silversmith are
cups, goblets, chalices, tankards, spoons, knives, forks, waiters,
bread-trays, tea-pots, coffee-pots, cream-pots, sugar-bowls,
sugar-tongs, and pencil-cases. Many of these articles he sometimes
makes of gold; this is especially the case in Europe, and some parts
of Asia. In the United States, the people are commonly satisfied with
the less expensive metal.
3. A great proportion of the silver used by this mechanic, has been
previously coined into dollars. In working these into different
utensils or vessels, he first melts them in a crucible, and casts the
silver into solid masses by pouring it into iron moulds; and having
forged it on an anvil, he reduces it still further, and to a uniform
thickness, by passing it several times between steel rollers. In
giving additional explanations of the operations of the silversmith,
we will describe the manner in which a plain tea-pot is manufactured.
4. In forming the body, or containing part, the plate, forged and
rolled as just described, is cut into a circular form, and placed on a
block of soft wood with a concave face, where it is beaten with a
convex hammer, until it has been brought to a form much like that of a
saucer. It is then placed upon an anvil, and beaten a while with a
long-necked hammer with a round flattish face.
5. It is next _raised_ to the proposed form by forging it on a long
slender anvil, called a _stake_, with a narrow-faced hammer, which
spreads the metal perpendicularly from the bottom, or laterally,
according to the position in which it may be held when brought in
contact with the metal.
6. After the piece has been thus brought to the proposed form, it is
_planished_ all over by beating it with a small hammer on the outside,
while it rests on a small steel head on the inside. During the
performance of these operations, the silver is occasionally _annealed_
by heating it in the fire; but it is worked while in a cold state,
except in the first forging, when it is wrought while a little below
red heat.
7. The several pieces which compose a tea-pot of ordinary
construction, amount to about fifteen, nearly all of which are rolled
and forged in the manner just described. The knob on the lid, the
handle, and the spout, are sometimes cast, and at other times, the two
pieces of which they are formed are cut from a plate, and brought to a
proper figure by impressing them with steel dies.
8. The figures seen on the cheaper kinds of silver tea-pots, as well
as on other vessels and utensils, are commonly made by passing the
plates or strips between engraved steel rollers, or by stamping them
with steel dies. The dies are commonly brought in sudden and violent
contact with the metal by means of an iron _drop_, which is let fall
from a height upon it.
9. After the several parts have been brought to the proper shape, and
to the requisite finish, they are firmly united together by means of a
solder composed of about three parts of silver and one of brass and
copper. Before the spout and handle are soldered on, the other parts,
which have been thus united into one piece, are brought to a certain
degree of polish.
10. This is effected chiefly in a lathe, by holding against the piece,
while in rapid motion, first a file, then a scraper, and afterwards
pumice stone and Scotch stone. It is then held against a rapidly
revolving brush, charged with fine brickdust and sweet oil. The handle
and spout are next soldered on. After this, the vessel is annealed,
and put in _pickle_, or, in other words, into a weak solution of oil
of vitriol. It is then scoured with sand and water, and the whole
operation is completed by burnishing the smooth parts with a steel
instrument.
11. In the more expensive kinds of wares, the raised figures and the
frosty appearance are produced by a process called _chasing_. In
executing this kind of work, a drawing is first made on the silver
with a lead pencil. The several parts are then raised from the other
side, corresponding as nearly as possible to it. The vessel or piece
is then filled with, or placed upon, melted cement, composed of pitch
and brick-dust; and, after the cement has become hard by cooling, the
chaser reduces the raised parts to the form indicated by the drawing,
by means of small steel punches. The roughness of surface, and frosty
appearance, are produced by punches indented on the end.
12. The operations of the silversmith are exceedingly various, many of
which could be hardly understood from mere description. We would,
therefore, recommend to the curious, actual inspection, assuring them
that the ingenuity displayed in executing the work in the different
branches of the business, is well worthy of their attention. We will
merely add, that spoons, knives, and forks, are not cast, as is
frequently supposed, but forged from strips of silver cut from rolled
sheets.
13. The earliest historical notice of gold and silver is found in the
thirteenth chapter of Genesis, where it is stated that Abraham
returned to Canaan from Egypt, "rich in cattle, in silver, and in
gold." This event took place about 1920 years before Christ, it being
but little more than 400 years after the deluge. From the authority
of the same book, we also learn, that during the life of this
patriarch, those metals were employed as a medium of commercial
intercourse, and as the materials for personal ornaments, vessels, and
utensils.
14. From the preceding facts, we have reason to believe that gold and
silver were known to the antediluvians; for, had not this been the
case, they could hardly have been held in such estimation so early as
the time of Abraham. In short, they were probably wrought even in the
days of the original progenitor of the human race, as was evidently
the case with iron and copper.