Aviva Directory » Arts & Literature » Crafts » Metalwork

The main interest of this part of our web guide is on metalworking in crafts or art.

Metalworking emerged more than 5,000 years ago when early societies discovered the benefits of heating and shaping metals into various tools. The resulting transition from stone to metal tools marked the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BC), driven by copper-tin alloys that offered superior strength. By the Iron Age (1200 BC), advancements in smelting and forge techniques enabled the widespread use of iron, dramatically changing agriculture, warfare, and artistic expression.

Across continents, cultures such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Celts developed distinctive metalworking traditions.

Metalworking processes include a variety of techniques, from traditional handcraft to high-tech fabrication. These include heating metal to a malleable state and shaping it through hammering or pressing (forging), pouring molten metal into molds to produce complex or repeatable forms (casting), bending, rolling, or stamping sheet metal to achieve the desired contours (forming), the use of techniques such as welding, brazing, and soldering to fuse metal components (joining), and polishing, patination, plating, or texturing to refine surface appearance and protect against corrosion (finishing).

Metal choices influence strength, workability, and aesthetic appeal.

Ferrous metals such as iron and steel are prized for structural integrity and hardness, common in blacksmithing and architectural installations.

Non-ferrous metals include copper (which is valued for its conductivity and warm patina, used in domestic crafts and sculpture), bronze (offering durability and rich color, traditionally used in statuary and decorative objects), brass (noted for its golden hue and acoustic properties, popular in musical instruments and ornamental work), and aluminum (which is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, favored in modern kinetic sculptures and functional design).

Precious metals, such as silver and gold, are central to jewelry and fine metalwork. Both of these metals are prized for their luster and malleability.

The use of metalworking in crafts and art includes jewelry and wearable art, often combining hand forging with lost wax-casting and laser engraving to create unique or custom pieces. Large-scale welding, patination, and electroforming are used in sculpture and installation. Metalworking is also used to form functional objects, like crafting furniture, lighting fixtures, and hardware that integrates industrial materials with artistic vision. Mixed-media collaborations merge metal with glass, wood, and textiles to explore contrasts in texture and form. Digital fabrication, employing CNC machining, water-jet cutting, and 3D printing in metal, is often used in contemporary art.

 

 

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