Silversmith of Williamsburg

Synopsis

Shows how a silver coffee pot would have been made by the hand-raising method in the period 1760-70. Also shows a mug being raised from the flat. Shows sand casting and polishing techniques. An unusual aspect is the way that the objects are held during hand-raising with the mouth of the vessel towards the silversmith (William de Matteo) on the stake instead of away from him as is normal practice. De Matteo always works in this way and his apprentices have been trained in the same unconventional technique. It is also of interest that the finished coffee pot weighed nearly 60 oz. which is about twice what a good pot of the period would have weighed and which would be quite impractical to use.

Language

English

Country

United States

Medium

Film; Video; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 44 min. Videocassette. VHS. col. 44 min.

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of production

1971

Availability

Free loan

Uses

University extra-mural courses leading to a diploma in the visual arts.*

Subjects

Crafts

Keywords

silversmithing

Credits

Director

Gene Bjerke

Contributor

Gene Bjerke

Cast

Fritz Weaver
Ulin Forman

Distribution Formats

Type

Film

Format

16mm

Sponsor

Name

Williamsburg

Address

Virginia
USA

Distributor

Name

Goldsmiths’ Hall

Phone

020 7606 7010

Fax

020 7606 1511

Address

Foster Lane
LONDON
EC2V 6BN