Treasures of Heaven: Medieval Goldsmiths

Summary

The video explores the timeless art of medieval goldsmithing, focusing on the technique of repousse, where metal is shaped from the reverse side. The goldsmith demonstrates this ancient process, highlighting its role in creating intricate designs for religious relics. The narrative includes a fascinating look at the reliquary of St. Adrian and Natalia, the significance of body-part-shaped reliquaries, and the process of chasing and using pitch for metal relief. The video emphasizes the continuity of these ancient techniques in modern craft, showcasing their enduring beauty and craftsmanship.

Takeaways

• 😀 Medieval goldsmiths were crucial artisans who created religious artifacts using precious metals like gold and silver.
• 😀 Their primary goal was to craft impressive objects for the church, often utilizing intricate designs.
• 😀 Goldsmithing techniques included engraving, hammering, and repousse—a method of working from behind the metal to create relief patterns.
• 😀 Repousse, meaning 'to push from the back' in French, is a technique that allows artisans to create detailed and raised designs.
• 😀 The artist finds the timeless nature of repousse and the visible tool marks to be fascinating, as they reflect the hand of the maker.
• 😀 The reliquary casket of St. Adrian and Natalia inspired the artist due to its historical significance and exquisite example of medieval repousse.
• 😀 The story of St. Adrian and Natalia, with Natalia carrying her husband's severed hand as a relic, deeply fascinated the artist.
• 😀 To replicate medieval techniques, the artist begins by cutting a piece of fine silver, transferring a design, and scribing the outline.
• 😀 Repousse involves heating a mixture of pitch (pine resin, tallow, brick dust) to create a resistant surface for hammering into the metal.
• 😀 Reliquaries were often shaped like the body parts from which the relics came, enhancing the relic's spiritual authority and value.
• 😀 Niello, a silver sulphide compound used in medieval goldsmithing, was used for decoration, giving the metal a black enamel-like finish.
• 😀 Repousse is an ancient technique that has remained largely unchanged since the time of the Egyptians, and the artist continues this heritage in their own work.

Q & A

Why were medieval goldsmiths considered important craftsmen?

Medieval goldsmiths were highly regarded because they worked with precious metals like gold and silver, crafting significant objects, particularly for religious purposes. Their work was essential in creating impressive artifacts for churches, such as reliquaries and liturgical items.

What techniques did medieval goldsmiths use in their work?

Medieval goldsmiths employed various techniques, including engraving metal to create patterns (often floral), hammering metal, and a method called repoussé, which involves hammering metal from behind to create raised designs.

What is repoussé, and why is it significant?

Repoussé is a technique where metal is hammered from behind to create raised designs. The word 'repoussé' comes from the French word meaning 'to push from the back.' It was significant because it allowed goldsmiths to create detailed reliefs in metal, which was commonly used in religious artifacts.

Why does the speaker appreciate the technique of repoussé?

The speaker appreciates repoussé for its timelessness, the visible tool marks that show the hand of the maker, and the intimate creation process that reflects the craftsmanship of the past.

What is the story behind the reliquary casket of St. Adrian and Natalia?

The reliquary casket of St. Adrian and Natalia is fascinating not only for its exquisite repoussé craftsmanship but also because of the captivating story it tells. Natalia's husband, St. Adrian, is martyred, and she is so proud of his martyrdom that she carries his severed hand with her, even taking it to bed.

What specific design is the speaker replicating in their work?

The speaker is replicating the severed hand of St. Adrian, as depicted in a reliquary, using the medieval repoussé technique. This is part of a larger project to create a low relief of St. Adrian's hand.

What is the first step the speaker takes in creating the hand of St. Adrian?

The first step in creating the hand of St. Adrian is to cut a piece of fine silver, which will be used for the design. The speaker then transfers the design and uses a fine steel scribing tool to outline it.

What is the purpose of using pitch in the repoussé process?

Pitch, made from pine resin, tallow, brick dust, and other materials, is used to create a resistant surface for repoussé work. When heated, pitch becomes sticky like tar, allowing the metal to be worked from the reverse without flattening it. When cold, the pitch hardens like wood, holding the metal in place.

What is niello, and how was it used in medieval goldsmithing?

Niello is a silver sulfide that hardens into a black enamel-like substance. In medieval goldsmithing, it was used as a decoration on silver artifacts, such as reliquaries, often alongside gilding to create intricate designs.

What makes repoussé a unique technique for creating relief scenes in metal?

Repoussé is unique because it allows goldsmiths to create a relief scene from a single, continuous piece of metal. This technique, using basic and accessible materials, has remained largely unchanged since ancient times, dating back to the ancient Egyptians.