Friday, March 6, 2015

Functional hammered metal

©2015 Barry Smith - Detail of hammered metal ladle bowl
Over the last week I have been working on a serious stash of ladles - possibly destined for a funky food store in the Melbourne area.

I wanted to make quite a number to give the store owners the chance to see a range of ladles that can be used for different purposes - hopefully to give some choice if they wanted to purchase some ladles for retail sale.

In the end I made 18 ladles. I completed the task today. All the ladles are made from recycled silver-plated EPNS - small trays; or goblets; or butter dishes; or lids; or drink coasters. The handles are made from new brass rod of various gauges or very heavy gauge copper wire.

©2015 Barry Smith - Hammered metal ladle bowls
©2015 Barry Smith - Formed copper wire and brass rod handles for ladles
©2015 Barry Smith - Handles and bowls riveted together with solid brass rivets (brass nails cut down) - ready for final polish
They were mainly made in threes.

©2015 Barry Smith - Re-hammered small (30mm in diameter) ornate bowls - chocolate ladles?
©2015 Barry Smith - Small (25-35mm in diameter) deep ladles - sauces?

I think the shallow ladles are great for serving curries.
©2015 Barry Smith - Shallow ladles made from silver-plated coasters - square brass rod handles 
©2015 Barry Smith - Medium depth ladles - beautiful hammered backs and anvil hardened copper rod handles.
©2015 Barry Smith - Medium depth ladles - lovely texture inside from hammering on a metal stake.
©2015 Barry Smith - More medium sized ladles but slightly shallower - beautiful hammered backs - with anvil hardened copper rod handles.
©2015 Barry Smith - Again - beautiful internal hammer texture.
Though there were a couple of deeper soup ladles made from repurposed and stake hammered silver-plated EPNS cups.

©2015 Barry Smith - Soup ladles - with simple heavy brass rod handles.
And a single ladle that ended up with a central copper rivet to close off the hole on what was one a silver-plated EPNS lid.

©2015 Barry Smith - Larger shallow ladle with copper rivet and copper handle .
The stash is now complete; and ready for consideration by the prospective client. I'll send some of the photos off to them.

©2015 Barry Smith - Stash of 18 ladles - all polished and ready for new homes.
It is now time to get ready to head out to dinner with friends.

8 comments:

  1. Unbelievable effort B - and all so gorgeous! Big congrats on a job well done.

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  2. Oooooo lovely!! ....well worth the time you must have put in to make them all. I'm sure the store will want the whole batch.

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  3. beautiful and very wonderfully ambitious. they are great. and now for a question: what is EPNS?

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  4. An impressive amount of work, Barry! Lovely variety of wonderful ladles. Your photos and work are as always, inspiring.

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  5. Hi F, R, V and AA - thanks for checking out the outcome of my production line; and leaving a supportive comment. F - thanks - you know only too well about the hammering and grinding - disturbing your quiet world. R - I do like the fact that they can look similar but the creative process adds unique features to each - will wait and see if the shop buys. V - thanks - EPNS - electroplated nickel silver - the base material the object is made from and then coated in sterling silver. AA - thanks for dropping in, I have been thinking of you and your creativity etc lately. I think we all inspire each other which is good. All - go well. B

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  6. Gorgeous photos of the beautiful ladles Barry! I think I'll be checking out your store soon. I hope these all go like hot cakes but if any are left I hope to be a purchaser.

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  7. C - still discussing arrangements with Melbourne - but will put some ladles up into the shop in the near future. Go well. B

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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.