-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
-
Image
Reticulated Textures
This virtual workshop is about discovering and understanding the beautiful process of reticulation. Participants will learn to make varying alloys, which affect the reticulations results, as well as the numerous steps required to obtain the wavy, unique textures that reticulation offers. This course will also elaborate on how to form, incorporate, solder, and rivet reticulation without damaging its texture, in order to make stunning one of a kind jewelry pieces.
For more information about virtual courses, visit our Virtual Course FAQ page.
Please read the Materials & Tools tab!
Meet the instructor
Matthieu moved from Paris to New-Mexico when he was 19, where for seven years he studied Navajo, Hopi and Zuni jewelry techniques. He was immediately drawn to stamping, making concho belts and bracelets. He then moved to Mali, West-Africa and worked for a few years with the Fulani, Tuareg and Bambara jewelers.
In 1999, Matthieu settled in Montreal Canada and continued his studies by going to a jewelry school and learning a more classical part of the trade. Over the years, Matthieu has returned to Africa regularly.
In 2014, Tim McCreight and Mattheiu Cheminee created the Toolbox Initiative, a non-profit organization that helps jewelers in West Africa through the gifts of donated tools.
“I have been stamping and making stamps since the beginning and have developed a form of stamping design by creating patterns that fill the entire piece of metal. This is called “tessellation”.
Matthieu has written two books, “Legacy, jewelry techniques of West Africa“ and “The Art of Stamping”, both published at Brynmorgen Press.
Visit Matthieu's website or instagram page for more info on his work.
Materials & Tools
The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.
Metal/raw materials:
- 2ozt x .999 or sterling silver - any form (Rio Grande)
- 1.5"x6" x sterling silver sheet - 21g (Rio Grande)
- 20grams x copper - any form (Amazon)
- 4"x4" x sheet of leather
Hand tools:
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x half round forming pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)
- 1 x calipers (Amazon)
- 1 x ring mandrel (Rio Grande)
- 1 x dapping set - steel or wood (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x brass hammer or other for hitting dappers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x burnisher (Rio Grande)
- 1 x rolling mill (Rio Grande)
- 1 x forging hammer - optional
Torch setup (You will need a large enough torch to melt your metal. A video will be sent to you for how to make an ingot mold using a charcoal block or a piece of hard wood, but a steel mold is recommended.):
- 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)
- 1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (Rio Grande)
- 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)
- 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)
- 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)
- 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)
- 1 x crucible (Rio Grande)
- 1 x ingot mold (Rio Grande)
- 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)
- 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)
- 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)
- 1 x brass bristle brush (Rio Grande)
- 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)
- 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing
- 1 x small brush - for flux
Other/miscellaneous items:
- borax powder - 20 Mule Team is good
- particulate dust mask
- eye protection
- shop rags/towels
- baking soda - 1oz
- ruler