Sterling
Container. Finalist in the Saul Bell Competition 2004. Sterling
silver sheet was microfolded (corrugated) in a microfold brake.
After annealing, it was microfolded again, at an angle to the first
direction. Each sheet was sawn into a circle. Each circle was deep
drawn in a hydraulic press to make the rough forms. The forms were
trued and gently flared with mallets and steel stakes. The center
section was formed (anticlasted) with hammers, mallets, and
stakes. The rim was carefully formed and fitted. Soldering
these to the textured vessel was tricky---getting the alignment
right, and avoiding having the solder fill the texture were exacting
procedures. The sterling silver is a new alloy containing germanium,
which is called Bright Silver, or Argentium Sterling. The
germanium replaces some of the usual copper. This gives the
metal tarnish resistance as well as improved working properties.
