Copper Tooling

Submitted by: a TeacherArtExchange list member
Unit: Crafts - Foil Tooling
Project: Foil tooling - Oriental Art
Grade: Middle School - Upper elementary
Length: Three to four class period
Alternate: Art of Ancient Middle East (below)

Goals of Concepts:

The students will create a copper tooling.

Objectives:

Given tools, teacher demonstrations, class periods, examples, discussion, and visuals, the students will create a copper tooling based on a design or image that they create.

Vocabulary:

Repousse. Relief,

Supplies/ Tools/ Equipment

Copper Pieces cut to size 5x7 recommended. - 5 x 7 Newsprint - Pencil - ball point pen -
Popsicle stick (or plastic/ wood modeling tools) - Newspaper - Shoe Polish or Liver of Sulphur- Paintbrushes

Motivational Strategies

The students were shown and variety of copper tooling examples as well as an example done by the teacher. They were impressed at the variety of subjects
that could be depicted as well as the detail achieved.

Instructional Preparations/ Suggestions/ Safety:

The students should have been shown the proper ways to handle the copper
pieces, as the edges were sharp.

Student Activities/ Procedures:

1.   The teacher showed the students examples of the various copper tooling examples. The students were then instructed to create a sketch the same size as their copper piece. (Oriental theme was used - but any theme can be used - handouts of ideas were provided)

2.   Once the students were happy with their sketch they were then instructed to tape the top and bottom of the sketch to their copper piece to prevent it moving as they were transferring the image. For this reason it is suggested that they leave a 1 inch margin along the top and bottom of their sketch.

3.   They are the place a thick pad of newspaper to begin their transfer on. If they don’t use the newspaper the lines won’t transfer. They should go over ever line of their sketch to transfer it to the copper plate. Trace over all lines with a ball point pen - remove drawing.

4.   After the sketch is transferred the students should use the Popsicle stick to begin pressing out areas of the copper (rounded modeling tools may also be used). This will give the project a 3-d effect. Turn back to front side and refine edges of design. A dull pencil works good for this if modeling tools are not available.

5.   Antique with liver of sulphur (if using copper tooling foil) - or antique with India ink (if using aluminum). Shoe polish may also be used.

Assessment:

Did the students create a copper tooling project

Did students show low relief by working both sides of the metal?

Did students exhibit craftsmanship?

Submitted by Judy Decker
Unit: Art of Ancient Middle East
Lesson: Foil Tooling - Textures in Clay - Ceramic Plate with foil tooled center design

These plates were made with a draped slab method (slump mold (a ring of newspaper was used to make the plate shape - and plate draped into the ring). Students made cylinder stamps to and clay stamps for border designs (stamped before draping). The backs of the plates were textures with found gadgets.

The foil tooled center (from a 6" circle) was done first so student made the plate to compliment the foil design. Foil was glued to plates after glaze firing. Student were inspired by art of Ancient Middle East and Islamic art in their design for the foil. Cylinder Seals were used in Mesopotamia.

Here is a "How to" make Ceramic Roller Stamps by Suzie Rhae

Repousse Defined:

Repousse [rə poò sáy], the process or the product of ornamenting metallic surfaces with designs in relief hammered out from the back by hand. Gold and silver are most commonly used today for fine work, but copper and tin are suitable for the purpose, and bronze was extensively used in past times. The process is of ancient origin, having been employed by most early civilizations. Among the finest examples of repousse are the famous bronze armor of Greece of the 4th cent. B.C., Byzantine religious works, and much of the gold and bronze work of Benvenuto Cellini. The process is distinct from embossing, in which the relief ornament is produced by use of dies. (copied from http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/R/repousse.html)

Metalwork in General:  Copper, gold, and silver were probably fashioned into ornaments and amulets as early as the Neolithic period. Goldwork and silverwork have since employed the talents of leading artisans and artists in making jewelry, plate, inlays, and sculpture. The first great advance in metalworking occurred when techniques for making bronze sculpture were developed during the Bronze Age. Brass, an alloy of copper with zinc, came into use later (see brasses, monumental; brasses, ornamental). The Iron Age provided a cheaper medium used chiefly for tools and ornamental ironwork until modern times, when improved methods, alloys, and machinery made iron available and essential to the industrial and structural trades. Pewter, tin, and lead have been used in industrial and art metalwork. Methods of shaping metals include drawing, spinning, hammering, and casting; various decorative processes include chasing, damascening, embossing, enamel work, filigree, gilding, inlaying, niello, and repousse. click on the different processes on the page for more) Copied from http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/M/metalwor.html

Also Bronze age: http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/B/BronzeAg.html 

Beautiful Contemporary Repousse by Rocio Heredia from Mexico : http://www.rocioheredia.com/ "Metal artist of the Mexican Contemporary generation. Rocio uses metalwork techniques of Chasing and Repousse; to raise intricate designs on Tin and Silver. She is known for her extraordinary metalwork, drenched in intricate motifs, and infused with the innate drama of Nature. Her favorite objects are Icon covers, Triptychs and Jewish Art, which she works down to the finest detail. Ancient Iconography and Religious Art are re-envisioned to depict modern womanhood."

Resources:

Introduction to Metalwork - from Encarta (8 pages)

Metalwork of ancient Iran  

Iranian gold drinking vessel 

My images all came from books - more images can be found online if a Google search.

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