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8/9/2008: New Recommendations Page
I've done the research so you won't have to! Listed are products and services recommended by silver restoration specialist Jeffrey Herman. Find out more here.

7/13/2008: Oppi Untracht Dies
Dr. Erhard Brepohl, a senior statesman among goldsmiths, sent this information from Germany: "It is our sad duty to announce the passing away of our relative and long time friend, OPPI UNTRACHT, on July 5th, 2008 at the age of 85, after several years of fighting against a serious illness.... "We know those who live in the heart of others never die - and so it is with Oppi."

6/27/2008: 2nd Quarter Silver News Now Available From the Silver Institute
The 2nd quarter 2008 issue of the Silver Institute's publication, "Silver News", is now available online. This document is in PDF format and should be viewed with Adobe Reader, and it can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.silverinstitute.org/news/2q08.pdf

6/27/2008: Residency Position in Jewelry/Metals/Glass Department
The Armory Art Center in Palm Beach County, Florida is seeking a recent or mature MFA graduate jewelry/metalsmith or fused glass artist for a residency position in the Jewelry/Metals/Glass Department. Responsibilities and stipend depend on term of residency, which can range from 8 months up to a year. Resident will be scheduled to teach up to three 3-hour classes a week. Exact classes will be determined by the Resident and Department Chair. Demonstrations during class are encouraged. Resident will give a lecture on their work and influences. Resident may give an additional workshop. On campus studio and monthly stipend provided. Resident group exhibition will be during year of residency.

2/7/2008: European Silver Workshops with Valentin Yotkov
We are happy to announce this is our third year offering workshops abroad and we invite you to join us on one of our fun filled and inspiring trips to Europe!

Denmark will offer you a five-day hands on Chasing and Repousse workshop on the majestic island of Bornholm, also known as the "Pearl of the Baltic Sea." In addition to the workshop we will go on sightseeing adventures to explore the captivating beauty of the island.

Our trip to Bulgaria will expose you to 10 unforgettable days exploring ancient gold and silver treasures created 2500 years ago. We will view metal vessels and jewelry among the artifacts exhibited at National museums. We will visit private studios of world renowned Bulgarian artists as well as caves, castles/fortresses, natural wonders, and wander through villagers untouched by time.

And then there is Italy in the heart of Tuscany! A stay at an incredible 16 century Villa and winery in the rolling green hills with breathtaking views in every direction. The focus of this workshop will be shading and drawing.

Creating dimension through shading will enable you to see how your design will appear when raised in metal.

We will relish in the beauty of this stunning vineyard and visit the quaint villages that the Chianti region has to offer as well as a trip to Florence.

For workshop schedules and to view photos from previous workshop please click on the links below. We look forward to having you join us.

Denmark. Chasing and Repousse
http://www.valentinyotkov.com/European_Workshops/Denmark/index.html

Bulgaria. Art and Culture Adventure
http://www.valentinyotkov.com/European_Workshops/Bulgaria/index.html

Italy. Shading and Drawing for Jewelry and Hollowware
http://www.valentinyotkov.com/European_Workshops/Italy/index.html

VALENTIN YOTKOV STUDIO
Artisan Member, Society of American Silversmiths
68 Jay Street, Studio 501A
Brooklyn, NY 11201
http://www.valentinyotkov.com

1/5/2008: Schoonhoven Silver Award:A Challenge for All Silversmiths.
The SilverArt foundation, located in the silver city of Schoonhoven is inviting silversmiths, designers and artists to take part in an international silversmithing competition. SilverArt was founded in 2001 and this is the fourth time it will be organizing a competition for the Schoonhoven Silver Award and accompanying exhibitions. Through this, the foundation wants to achieve its most important aim, namely to bring contemporary "large works in silver" to the attention of a broad audience of art-lovers. We hereby invite artists from all over the world to compete for this glorious prize.

A qualified jury will judge all the entries to this. The Jury comprises: Annabelle Birnie, head of ING Art Management, Jury Chair Sjarel Ex, director of Boijmans van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam Ineke Middag, director of the Singer Museum in Laren

The winner will receive the "Schoonhoven Silver Award", a prize of €7,000, made available by Schoonhoven City Council. The foundation aims to have the exhibition tour internationally once the silver works have first been exhibited in De Watertoren in Schoonhoven.

The SilverArt Foundation invites silversmiths, designers and artists to participate in the selection for this competition and the resulting exhibitions. You can enter this competition by sending documentation to: SilverArt Foundation, Bij de Watertoren 25, 2871 SW, Schoonhoven, The Netherlands; before April 12th 2008. This documentation must include clear pictures of your work together with your name, address, date of birth, telephone number and email address. Collaboration between artists is permitted.

Could you please arrange this documentation in such a way that the Jury can effectively get a good idea of your work? For this reason email with attachments cannot be accepted.

Based on the documentation the Jury will select the entrants who will be invited to participate in the design competition. In principle all entrants of whom the Jury is convinced that they can skillfully make a silver object (or have it made) will be accepted. We shall ensure that the documentation is returned as quickly as possible. All Jury decisions are binding.

The participants invited by the Jury to take part in the competition will be asked to make one object in silver with the theme of "Poetry in Silver". This object must be original and recently made. It must not have been previously shown at an international exhibition or have been portrayed in a catalogue.

The object must be predominantly made of silver. Other materials may be used, but these must not affect the character of the silverwork. The size of the work must be at least 60 centimeters as the sum of length, width and height. This expressly excludes jewelry.

The Jury will judge the objects that have been entered and select the winner of the Schoonhoven Silver Award 2009.

All pieces accepted will be exhibited in De Watertoren in Schoonhoven from April 3rd to June 28th 2009. The pieces must remain available to the organization until the end of 2009 for the anticipated subsequent exhibitions.

The SilverArt Foundation will publish a catalogue to accompany the exhibition, in which all the works will be represented with a photo, name and title.

Sufficient copies will be printed for each participant to be given their own catalogue and it will be possible for participants to order further copies.

For more information concerning this design competition please send an email with return address and the subject line: "poetry in silver".

The address is: info@zilverkunst.nl. Additional information is also available on the website: http://www.zilverkunst.nl

1/5/2008: New Technical Paper
Check out Charles Lewton-Brain's paper on Patination Safety Considerations. It's a must-read for anyone using these hazardous chemicals, including liver of sulphur!

8/9/2007: SAS Debuts its Career Center!
With its focus on the metal arts field, the Career Center offers its members—and the industry at large—an easy-to-use and highly targeted resource for online employment connections.

We accept resumes and job listings for all positions in the metal arts field, including: silversmiths; jewelers; designers; teachers; chasers; spinners; engravers; die makers; model makers; mold makers; casters; polishers; technicians; manufacturing, and marketing and sales professionals.

7/30/2007: John Marshall Receives 2006 Hans Christensen Sterling Silversmith's Award!
Jeffrey Herman, Executive Director of the Society of American Silversmiths (SAS), announced that John Marshall has been selected to receive the 2006 Hans Christensen Sterling Silversmith's Award. "John Marshall has produced astounding large-scale and innovative pieces throughout his career. His amazing ability to move metal and push the material to its absolute limits is nothing short of phenomenal," said Mr. Herman. "Many of Mr. Marshall's major commissions have combined silver and some of the world's largest natural gemstones. Simply handling these major specimens while creating support structures for them is a feat in itself. John Marshall is a humble and driven artist who has given the world a totally new and exciting way to appreciate silver."

Mr. Marshall chaired the Metalworking Department at the University of Washington School of Art, and was named Professor Emeritus in 2001. He also taught at Syracuse University, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Cleveland Institute of Art, with majors in silversmithing and design. Mr. Marshall's papers and drawings (1963-2003) are included in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution. He is an American Craft Council Honorary Fellow, a peer-elected distinction reserved for artists of outstanding ability who have worked 25 years or more in their discipline. A two-and-a-half-minute video of John working, and more biographical information, can be found at http://www.silversmithing.com/1hans27.htm.

The Hans Christensen Award is named after the late Hans Christensen, silversmith at Georg Jensen Silversmithy in Denmark, and Professor of Silversmithing at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York. The annual award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the field.

7/26/2007: MJSA Trade Show Featuring Cynthia Eid
On Oct. 11, I'll be giving a presentation about working with Argentium Silver. Topics discussed will include annealing, soldering, hardening, fusing, kum boo, tarnish resistance, firescale (none), and finishing. Techniques will be demonstrated either via videos of processes, or demonstrations (depending on the fire rules at the Convention Center). For more information, contact Cynthia Eid, ceid@cynthiaeid.com

7/24/2007: Second Quarter Silver News
The 2nd quarter 2007 issue of the Silver Institute's publication, "Silver News", is now available online. This document is in PDF format and should be viewed with Adobe Reader, and it can be accessed at the following link:

If you do not have Adobe Reader loaded on your computer, you may download it from the Internet at no charge. Simply click on this link to the Adobe web site http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html and follow the simple instructions at the bottom of the page.

The Silver Institute
1200 G Street, NW - Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202/835-0185
Fax: 202/835-0155

You Won’t Find This Collection of Products and Services at Any Other Trade Show: J3D Jewelry Design Institute (CAD training), A to Z Bohemian Glass (beads), Acropolis Studios (CAD/CAM services), American Gemological Laboratories (gemstone grading lab), Agliatta Associates (jewelers’ insurance), AirSep (oxygen & industrial gases), Aquatronics Industries (water & waste management), Bella Venetian Beads (imported glass beads), E.H. Ashley (Swarovski 5-star dealer), Crafford-LaserStar (laser systems), Exquisite Jewelry (gold & silver findings), Forrestal Jewelry (tools for jewelry making & display), Geib Refining (precious metal refiners), Gemvision (computer design software), Gesswein (tools, equipment, supplies), Hybrivet Systems (lead testing kits), Innovative CAD Technologies (CAD Service Bureau), Jewelers Board of Trade (credit reporting, collections, marketing), Jewelers Mutual (insurance for the jewelry industry), Jewelry Training Center (training & education), Lucky Gems & Jewelry Factory (semi-precious stones, beads, pearls), Merchants Overseas (Swarovski 5-star dealer), Metalsmith/Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG), Metalwerx (jewelry making training), refiners), Multi Creations (beads & gemstones), National Assn of Jewelry Appraisers, Niche Magazine, Para Wire (wire & metals), Premier Roll & Tool (roll tools), Professional Security Services (security guards), RHB Enterprises (imported beads, gemstones, minerals), Racecar Jewelry (findings, chain, components), Rare Earth Mining (one of a kind gemstones), Reactive Metals Studio (leading supplier of nobium & titanium sheet and wire), Reliable-Larimar (an ocean blue gemstone from the Dominican Republic), Silver In Style (silver beads & findings from Bali and Thailand), Solidscape (wax printers), Spirig (Spirflame microflame generators), Stuller Inc. (tools; equipment, findings), United Precious Metal Refining (precious metals, alloys, solders), Unique Gems (beads & gemstones), Waxcutter (table top CNC machines), Zarlene Imports (beads & gemstones), and some very interesting companies about to sign-up.

October 10 & 11, 2007
Rhode Island Convention Center, Downtown Providence
Register here: https://www.expotracshows.com/mjsa/2007
For additional information, call 800/444-6572

6/17/2007: Shell Forming Book to be Published.
Betty Helen Longhi and Cynthia Eid are writing a book about shell forming, which will be edited by Tim McCreight and published by Brynmorgen Press. The working title is Shell Forming for Jewelers and Metalsmiths: Creative Paths to Form. We are looking for photographs of shell formed metalwork to include in the book. The work may be wholly shell formed, or incorporate parts made using synclastic or anticlastic forming, or a combination of the two. There will also be a bit about raising, so images showing work that has been raised is of interest as well. Jewelry, hollowware, and sculpture of any scale, and made of any metal are all of interest. Digital images are preferable, but slides are fine. Digital images need to be at least 4" x 6" x 300 dpi in TIF. Images due July 31, 2007. For further information, email Cynthia at ceid@cynthiaeid.com or Betty at fluidforms@lexcominc.net.

2/25/2007: Silver Institure's 1st Quarter 2007 Issue of Silver News
This document is in PDF format and should be viewed with Adobe Reader, and it can be accessed at the following link: http://www.silverinstitute.org/news/1q07.pdf

If you do not have Adobe Reader loaded on your computer, you may download it from the Internet at no charge. Simply click on this link to the Adobe web site (http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep2.html) and follow the simple instructions at the bottom of the page.

Yenny Feng
The Silver Institute
1200 G Street, NW - Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202/835-0185, Fax: 202/835-0155

1/18/2007: ARGENTIUM SILVER MINI-SYMPOSIUM
Argentium® Sterling Silver: Past, Present and Future
Peter G. Johns, Technical Director for Argentium Silver Co. Ltd. and Samuel A. Davis, P.E., Senior Process Engineer for Stern-Leach. Peter Johns is the inventor or Argentium Silver. Stern-Leach is the licensed manufacturer of Argentium Silver in the United States.

Thursday evening, January 25, 2007
Time: 6:00 PM – Social Hour
7:00 PM – Dinner is served.

Place: MIT Faculty Club
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA
(located on the 6th floor of the Sloan Building, Building E52 on the MIT campus Free Parking is located on the back of building E55, accessed from Main St.)
Directions http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?section=directions

Attendees should RSVP to Ceren (Karen) Eraslan at ccura-eraslan@emsclad.com ASAP.

Argentium Sterling Silver is a revolutionary invention that offers the benefits of being harder and more tarnish and firescale resistant than regular sterling silver. Since manufacturing began at Stern-Leach in 2004, Argentium Silver has rapidly gained popularity and hundreds of products, processes, and major developments have evolved. Customers, artisans, and craftsman who use Argentium Silver, have become an integral part of the education, marketing and commercial development of the product. A historical overview of the research behind Argentium Silver will be presented, together with details of the unique properties of the alloy. Theoretical data and test results will then be discussed, which support the claims being made that Argentium Silver is more ductile and more tarnish and fire scale resistant than regular sterling. A small exhibition of silverware and jewelry items will be on display and a video titled “The Silversmith of Williamsburg", will be available for viewing at the start of the evening. This short film depicts traditional silversmithing techniques.

Peter G. Johns, FIPG, is the inventor of Argentium Silver and the Technical Director for Argentium Silver Co. Ltd., leading the research activities and product development program for the company.

Peter brings practical experience as a silversmith, with a unique insight into silver production, from both a craft perspective and an industrial manufacturing perspective. He trained and worked as a silversmith and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and the City of London. During his apprenticeship, he won a Gold Medal at the Industrial Olympics, as well as several awards for craftsmanship. His masterpiece to gain the freedom of The Goldsmiths’ Company was a silver cross - this is now the Processional Cross used at Canterbury Cathedral. Peter is also a Fellow of The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (UK).

Argentium Silver was developed through Peter’s research at Middlesex University (UK), which initially set out to prevent firescale in sterling silver. Further research revealed other superior features, including high tarnish resistance and unique hardening properties. Peter has presented his research around the globe, including at the world famous Santa Fe Symposium, on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology. There are now 16 patents pending and four granted patents related to Argentium Silver. In 2004, Argentium Silver won the ‘AJM Innovation Award’.

Samuel A. Davis, P.E., is a Senior Process Engineer for Stern-Leach, a company of Cookson Precious Metals, Cookson Material Products division. His responsibilities include duties such as alloy, product and process development; Chair of the Ergonomics Committee; customer technical support; procedure writing; and continuous improvement. He previously worked as a Process Engineer for Titanium Metals Corporation and as a Senior Process Safety Engineer for H.C. Starck.

Mr. Davis is an active member of The Minerals, Metals, Materials Society (TMS); the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE); and Tau Beta Pi (the engineering honor society). He was selected as a TMS Young Leader for the Extraction and Processing Division in 1999-2000 and served as Chair of the TMS Young Leader Committee, where he helped organize and chair symposiums at the national meetings. More recently, he is the past chair of the Boston Section of TMS. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.

11/3/2006: New Benefit for Members
McKinnon Global
Michael McKinnon
1313 5th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
800/452-4816,

, Web site
McKinnon Global offers a 5% discount to SAS members for any jewelry supply product--whether bought on the web or over the phone (please indicate your affiliation when ordering). An additional 5% for a total of 10% will be given for group orders. McKinnon Global is an innovative, full-service provider to the Jewelry and Creative Arts community. We feature our own unique state-of-the-art products as well as the latest from 3M, Foredom, JoolTool, Roland and Eve.

10/20/2006: New Silver Forum on the Web!
A new web forum where people interested in collecting silver can get help and advice. The forum features sections on all aspects of silver collecting such as reading hallmarks, and silver care and restoration.

Its a young project, but the small, enthusiastic community is growing fast. In fact silversmithing.com's very own Jeff Herman has just become moderator of the silver care section!

Its free to join and participate and we encourage you all to stop by and introduce yourselves at the silver-collector bar!

The Metalsmith's Alloy Calculator, a regular Member Benefit, contains additional features. Read about this fantastic new time-saving "tool" for your office, then come back to check-out the numerous discounts.

9/14/2006: Silversmith Florence Hollingsworth Dies
By Cheryl Lecesse/ Staff Writer
Exerpted with permission from the Lincoln Journal

In 2003, the town honored Florence Hollingsworth with the Boston Post Cane as Lincoln’s oldest registered voter.

Hollingsworth, who turned 100 Aug. 28, died at her home Sept. 5. She was surrounded by her network of caretakers, who over the past 10 years had become her family.

Originally from Oregon, Hollingsworth attended Oregon State University, where she met her husband Lowell. The two graduated when the Great Depression hit the nation hard. The Rev. Roger Paine of First Parish Church, where Hollingsworth was a member, said Florence took a teaching job after graduation that paid her only with IOUs at first.

In an attempt to better their situation the couple attended Stanford University, after which Lowell was offered a job at MIT Lincoln Labs and they relocated to the East Coast.

Hollingsworth was a well-known silversmith and taught for many years at DeCordova’s Museum School. LeBlanc remembers taking her back to DeCordova and to a studio at the school, Studio 5, which is named after her.

"You could just see her face light up," she said. "There are some things that just stay even with Alzheimer’s."

Libby Prince, who has houses in Concord and Florida, was one of Hollingsworth’s first silversmith students at DeCordova, almost 50 years ago and remained in touch with her and her husband over the years.

Prince said Hollingsworth started working at DeCordova in the late 1950s to keep busy.

"She was so warm that when she had students she befriended them like family," Prince said, and by the end of the class, every student had been to her house either for lunch or dinner.

Sarah Cannon Holden, who grew up in town, remembers the popularity of Hollingsworth’s class, and has a set of silver candlesticks her mother made for her when she was one of Hollingsworth’s students. Hollingsworth would often put her silversmith skills to work outside of the school, making gifts for family and friends. Children of Hollingsworth’s friends remember her as a generous person.

"Florence made a silver creamer and sugar that my mother had and I have now," said Charles Phillips, a Concord resident who grew up in Lincoln.

Hollingsworth shared her wealth. She was an avid gardener and would give her plants to friends, who remember her having a tennis court-sized enclosure around her garden at home. She would also share recipes.

"She was really a legend in Lincoln for many years," said Cannon Holden. "She was just this person of my childhood who was just so special."

The Metalsmith's Alloy Calculator™ is now a regular Member Benefit. Read about this fantastic new time-saving "tool" for your office, then come back to check-out the numerous Member Benefits.

1/12/2006: Changes in Member Benefits Complete
The Member Benefits page is now totally updated with changed contact information, new suppliers, and companies no longer participating. Please check the Benefits page as soon as you can or before placing an order. If you have ANY questions, please contact Jeff Herman.

1/6/2006: New Supplier!

Billrich Industries is an authorized distributor of the entire Handler Manufacturing line of processing equipment for the metalsmith. They carry a full line of dust collection equipment (from single work station to multi-position 3 and 5 HP units), grinders & polishing lathes, bench top polishing units, larger floor model polishing units, jewelers' hoods, hand pieces, flexible shaft motors and lappers, and much more. Visit their Web site to see Handler’s complete line of products. Society members will receive a 15% discount on all catalogue items, and up to 20% discount on any customized item. Billrich Industries, PO Box 201, Fanwood, NJ 07023, 908/233-7796, Fax: 908/233-7340, Web site

12/29/05: New Version of Metalsmith's Alloy Calculator Released
New members will receive a FREE download of The Metalsmith's Alloy Calculator! Envelopes must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, January 4th, 2006.

11/26/05: New Version of Metalsmith's Alloy Calculator Released
If you haven't read about this time-saving tool, find out all about it here.

10/20/05: SAS Disaster Relief
We'll help metal arts candidates who have been affected by disasterous situations. Find out more here.

10/18/05: SAS Career Center
SAS members can post FREE resumes and want ads. You must be a silversmith, jeweler, polisher, engraver, spinner, chaser, restorer, die maker, mold maker, silversmithing instructor, designer, or individual involved in the metal arts field. Schools and manufacturers may post ads for the above positions. Find SAS Career Center here.

9/29/05: G&S Metals, Inc.
PO Box 7985, Ann Arbor, MI 48107
800/852-3860, 734/662-9344, Fax: 877/662-6881, 734/662-6881
E-mail: gs@gsgold.com
Web: http://www.gsgold.com
Gold, silver, platinum casting grain may be purchased assorted by like metals to achieve maximum quantity price breaks. Sheet, wires, and, sizing stock also combine for quantity price breaks. All members will receive one quantity price break. more...

9/23/05: Precious Metals on Display
Two exhibits in Washington showcase the beauty of silver and gold more...

8/13/05: The Art of Hand Engraving
On the sixth floor of the Tiffany & Co. New York headquarters more...

8/12/05: All That Glitters
It's hard to believe that the smeary pieces of silver lying on Jon Hunt's workbench will more...

8/4/05: Art Fund Dashes to Save Sterling Trophy
London, England: The Art Fund has awarded a grant of £15,000 towards a unique piece of the nation’s sporting history more...

5/24/05: New Argentium Sterling Dealer
GS is the latest dealer offering this exciting, new alloy more...

4/27/05: 2005 Christen Award
This year's recipient has been chosen...stay tuned!