"The book examines a series of practical goldsmithing projects, each of which has been successfully completed by student goldsmiths using its instructions ... The creation of rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, and clasps, the use of specialized tools, as well as hand positions, movements, and technical data are described in lucid text and demonstrated with an abundance of detailed color photos"--Cover.

Examines a series of practical goldsmithing projects, each of which has been successfully completed by student goldsmiths using its instructions. The creation of rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, and clasps, the use of specialized tools, as well as hand positions, movements, and technical data are clearly described and demonstrated with many detailed color photos.

Since its initial appearance in 1961, Theorie und Praxis des Goldschmieds has become a standard for training goldsmiths and professional workshop practice, and is here translated from the 1994 edition. It discusses materials, basic techniques and tools, and such specific techniques as joining and pl

"A startling argument . . . provocative . . . absorbing." --The Boston Globe "Ambitious . . . arresting . . . celebrates the importance of hands to our lives today as well as to the history of our species." --The New York Times Book Review The human hand is a miracle of biomechanics, one of the most remarkable adaptations in the history of evolution. The hands of a concert pianist can elicit glorious sound and stir emotion; those of a surgeon can perform the most delicate operations; those of a rock climber allow him to scale a vertical mountain wall. Neurologist Frank R. Wilson makes the striking claim that it is because of the unique structure of the hand and its evolution in cooperation with the brain that Homo sapiens became the most intelligent, preeminent animal on the earth. In this fascinating book, Wilson moves from a discussion of the hand's evolution--and how its intimate communication with the brain affects such areas as neurology, psychology, and linguistics--to provocative new ideas about human creativity and how best to nurture it. Like Oliver Sacks and Stephen Jay Gould, Wilson handles a daunting range of scientific knowledge with a surprising deftness and a profound curiosity about human possibility. Provocative, illuminating, and delightful to read, The Hand encourages us to think in new ways about one of our most taken-for-granted assets. "A mark of the book's excellence [is that] it makes the reader aware of the wonder in trivial, everyday acts, and reveals the complexity behind the simplest manipulation." --The Washington Post

A guide to making jewelry at home, including orientation to tools, materials and techniques.

A new wire weaving technique that varies the number of wires and their thickness to create stunningly beautiful bracelets, necklaces, and pendants is introduced in this guide. Project instructions go well beyond simple line drawings to show the assembly process of each piece in a series of step-by-step photographs. The nine projects begin with an elegantly simple woven bracelet and move on to more dramatic projects that include a domed cuff bracelet with soldered bead ends, a free-form bracelet, a woven neck piece, and a pendant with a woven frame. Projects range in difficulty from easy to advanced, and many can be completed without soldering.

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever", but only if you care for it properly. All owners of antiques or works of art should be aware that, without appropriate care and attention, their prized possessions may be put at risk of damage and deterioration that will invariably cause a depreciation in value. Sotheby's Caring for Antiques is the essential illustrated reference for everyone who owns antiques and needs expert advice on their proper care and preservation. Who better to give this advice than Sotheby's, the world's oldest and leading fine arts auction house? Written by world-renowned conservators from Sotheby's and other major institutions, this invaluable resource covers all types of antiques, including furniture, paintings and prints, silver, jewelry, clocks, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, scientific instruments, books, carpets, and sculpture. The most up-to-date advice is combined with a wealth of photographic references; more than 150 color photographs are included. Sotheby's Caring for Antiques offers accessible advice on the everyday precautions that should be taken when handling, cleaning, storing, or displaying your antiques, and also includes detailed instructions on how to recognize a variety of conditions that may require attention, from discoloration of a print to the structural deterioration of furniture and metalwork. In many cases these problems may be arrested by the owner, but where the object appears to be in jeopardy, advice is given about when to enlist the services of a conservator or restorer, together with a broad outline of the remedies that these professionals might be able to effect. Also included is a directory of organizations concerned with theconservation and restoration of antiques of all sorts. Sotheby's Caring for Antiques is an indispensable companion for all owners of antiques.