Goldsmith  

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==Notable goldsmiths== ==Notable goldsmiths==
-See [[:Category:Goldsmiths]] and [[:Category:Silversmiths]] 
* [[Paul de Lamerie]] * [[Paul de Lamerie]]
* [[Paul Storr]] * [[Paul Storr]]

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A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with precious metals, usually, to make jewelry, valuable flatware, platters, goblets, decorative and serviceable utensils, and ceremonial or religious items. The printmaking technique of engraving developed among goldsmiths in Germany around 1430, who had long used the technique on their metal pieces. The notable engravers of the 1400s either were goldsmiths, as was Master E. S., or the sons of goldsmiths, such as Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer.

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Overview

Goldsmiths must be skilled in forming metal through filing, soldering, piercing, sawing, forging, casting, and polishing metal. Traditionally, these skills had been passed along through apprenticeships, however, more recently Jewelry Arts Schools specializing solely in teaching goldsmithing and a multitude of skills falling under the jewelry arts umbrella are now available. Many Universities and Junior Colleges also offer goldsmithing, silversmithing and metal arts fabrication as a part of their fine arts curriculum. Today, it is not uncommon for a goldsmith to study other arts in order to reflect the social implications of the products of the trade.

Gold and precious metals have been worked by humans in all cultures where the metals were available, either indigenously or imported, and the history of these activities is extensive. Superbly made objects from the ancient cultures of Europe, Africa, India, Asia, South America, Mesoamerica, and North America grace museums and collections around the world.

In medieval Europe goldsmiths were organized in guilds and were usually one of the most important and wealthy of the guilds in a city. The guild kept records of members and the marks they used on their products. These records are very useful to historians, where they to survive. Goldsmiths often acted as bankers, since they dealt in gold and had sufficient security for the safe storage of valuable items. In the Middle Ages, goldsmithing normally included silversmithing as well, but the brass workers and workers in other base metals were normally in a separate guild since the trades were not allowed to overlap. Usually jewelers were goldsmiths.

Goldsmiths and printmaking

The printmaking technique of engraving developed among goldsmiths in Germany around 1430, who had long used the technique on their metal pieces. The notable engravers of the 1400s either were goldsmiths, as was Master E. S., or the sons of goldsmiths, such as Martin Schongauer and Albrecht Dürer.

Notable goldsmiths

See also




Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Goldsmith" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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