The Art of Metal

            Metal is such a common material that most people just take for granted.  Luca, our docent on the Made in Florence walk, took us to a metal “world” where we saw, first hand, how accessories were made. We learned that no two accessories are the alike. The Craftsmen must have a very steady hand if he or she wants to enter this field of work.

            There are only two types of metals that are used to produce the goods in Carlo Cecchi’s little secluded shop, steel and copper.  Hidden in the backstreets of Florence, his shop is quietly hidden next to a small outdoor market where only locals shop. His shop is likely one of only a few that still creates these metal goods by hand.  There is so much that goes into this particular metal work. First, the craftsmen must have a visual so that they can chisel the design onto very thick steel. After the design is transferred, a thin piece of copper is placed on top so that the picture is stamped onto the copper. There is a machine in this step of the process because it’s impossible to stamp the design by hand. The final product then goes to another metal craftsman to polish or weld. The finished product could be a picture frame, purse, or other jewlery accessorie.

            Three dimensional objects have a bit of a different system to make. First a clay model is made by the Artistisan. These metal guilds have a neat trick. A guild is just another name the Italians use for the professional group.  The metal guild would be a metal working class or in the metal profession. The neat trick is that the clay is coated in copper and heated to a certain degree. There would be a whole in the middle for the clay to melt out of and then liquid copper would be filled into the space inside a particular shape. This is the way a metal worker is able to create three dimensional objects. Of course this isn’t the end. The metal still has to go through another process where the design and polishing are completed.

            What I learned from this process is not only how to make the actual metal product, but understanding why anyone would do this type of work. As I said, someone who wants to pursue this career must have a steady hand which is acquired through years of training. There are many brand names that have interest in this trade.  People cherish these possessions.  Anyone who is a part of this job very well could be the creators of products sold from brands like Gucci, VIGANT, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, Sotheby’s, and even Rene Reveur Paris, which just happen to all be big customers of Carlo Cecchi.    

-Susan