As some of you may have noticed, we have been offering jewelry workshops for about a year now. These workshops always take place either here in our studio in Neukölln or in Avi Jakobs' wonderful studio "Mit Liebe oder garnicht" in Friedrichshain. The courses last four hours and usually take place on a Sunday afternoon. During these four hours, we give you a brief insight into the technique of the lost wax casting process before all participants can then work on their own wax models.
What kind of jewelry is made during the course is up to the participants; everything from rings to earrings, ear cuffs, pendants and bangles has already been created during previous courses.
The courses always follow a similar pattern. As soon as everyone has settled in and has something to drink, we start with a short introduction and a presentation on wax modeling and the lost wax casting process. Afterwards, all participants have time to sketch their ideas or to get some inspiration from the books available. We then start with those who already have an idea and work together to think about which method, which wax and which tools will be the best for the person to achieve their result. During the course of the workshop, I keep going around and giving help and tips that make the work easier or make the result a little more perfect.
After the four hours, all participants will have created at least one finished wax model.
After the course, the wax models are taken to the casting company with which we work closely. This casting company specializes in jewelry casting. In this process, the cast parts are first attached to a wax "casting tree". This casting tree is embedded in a plaster mass and dried. As soon as the plaster cylinder is dry, it is fired in an oven at such a high temperature that the wax melts out. What remains is the negative of the casting tree in a plaster cylinder. This plaster cylinder is then placed in a vacuum machine with the opening to the casting tree facing upwards and while molten 100% recycled 935 sterling silver is poured into the plaster at the top, the machine creates a vacuum. Thanks to the porosity of plaster, the vacuum draws the hot metal into even the finest details of the negative form. The plaster mold and the casting tree are now dipped into a bucket of water so that the plaster dissolves. What remains is the casting tree in sterling silver. The individual models are then cut off from this casting tree and these raw castings are returned to us. Here in our studio in Neukölln, the casting models are then freed from their sprue, filed and polished. The finished pieces of jewelry are then packed in a jewelry box and returned to the participants.
The process of casting and finishing can take up to two weeks, or three weeks if gold plating is desired. Depending on the wishes of the participants, the finished pieces of jewelry will then be shipped or can be picked up in our studio in Neukölln.
Are your fingers tingling or have you always wanted to bring your very own jewelry vision to life? Then this workshop is just right for you! No previous knowledge is required and it also makes a great gift for your loved ones!
Find the next dates and all further information here !
