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Chasing and repoussé

· Updated · 1 min read · Techniques

Illustration: Chasing and repoussé

Repoussé and chasing are two phases of the same technique: first the relief is raised from the back, then it is outlined from the front.

Steps of the technique: Anneal and fix, Trace, Chase, Repoussé, Anneal, Clean
Summary of the steps

Repoussé #

The sheet rests on a soft surface (chaser's pitch) and is struck from behind with punches to push the metal outward and form volumes.

Chasing #

The piece is turned over and, with chisels and punches of different tips (tracers, liners, planishers, matting tools), details are defined, grounds smoothed and texture marked.

Materials and tools #

Chaser's pitch, held in a bowl or block; chasing hammers; punches; frequent annealing and a bath or heat to remove the pitch when finished.

History #

It has been known since ancient Egypt and Greece, and appears in masks, armor and cult objects. Today it is used in pendants, brooches and bangles.

Step by step #

  1. Anneal and fix. Soften the sheet and fix it on pitch.
  2. Trace. Mark the design with a tracer.
  3. Chase. Strike the punches to outline the lines.
  4. Repoussé. Turn it over and push from behind to raise relief.
  5. Anneal. Each time the metal hardens.
  6. Clean. Remove the pitch and polish.

Tools and materials #

Common mistakes #

  • Striking with uneven force: the relief is irregular.
  • Not annealing in time: the sheet cracks.
  • Pitch too hard or cold: the sheet will not give.
  • Piercing the sheet with a sharp chisel.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.