Home / Recent Work / Isabelle ( a mechanical bell), 2017, Bronze and Brass, 9.5" x 15" x 9.5" / Isabelle, how it was made / Stage 1 34
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The goal of stage 1.
1. Starting with a circular disc of silicon bronze. It's marked so that it is slightly oval, even though it is a circle, the shorter end being the face, which will end up shorter than the hair.
2. Crimps put into it for raising. The arrow indicates the face end.
3. The first stage of raising is always the hardest, and with this bronze, I needed the BIG raising hammer.
4. The first stage of raising done. The bronze gets harder and harder to work the closer to the edge you get. If this was brass or copper it would look a lot neater and have a steeper angle.
5. After annealing, working on stage two of raising. A bit easier this time; I was able to use my regular raising hammer.
6. Done with stage two of raising. Looking much better this time. Ready to anneal again.
7. Third stage of raising completed. To be annealed again.
8.Fourth stage of raising completed.
9. After annealing. Lines drawn to indicate the separation between the hair and face.
10. The stake I used for the next step.
11. Using the stake in the previous picture and a straight-peen hammer to one side of the stake, creating a deep crease.
12. Progress comes in baby steps.
13. Changing the flat top of the head to a nice rounded dome.