Inlay, koftgari, repousse, chasing and neillo

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

Always wondered about these terms can anyone give me a quick primer on definitions and how they are different?

[RhysMichael]

Dan
I often use the term inlay as I think that is a more generic term that fits them all. Though I have also heard it used only for times when the pattern was cut and the metal was either glued or hammered into the pattern


I have always been told that in niello the pattern was cut out an then filled with a mixture various of silver and lead alloys. this makes the fill black against the metal color

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/swords/1dha_011.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/3Dha_003.jpg


In koftgari lines are etched into the surface then the metal is pressed onto the scratched marks in the shapes needed then it is heated to help it adhere

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/DSCF0317.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/2dha_002.jpg

All I could find on chasing describes it as an "embossing" on metal

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/2dha_004.jpg

Repousse the metal is hammered into the pattern

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/DSCF0273.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/RhysMicheal/3Dha_005.jpg

That being said I am not as cautious to use these terms properly as I should be. This my understanding of the terms only and I look forward to comments from those more versed in this than I am

John

[Mark]

I just checked the dictionary to confirm my recollection about "chased" and "repousee," though as it turns out I had them backwards. "Chased" means a pattern in relief on the surface of the metal, engraved or embossed, but basically by working from the outside in. "Repousse" is relief hammered into the metal from the inside out.

"Embossed" is a more general term that means decoration that is raised above the surface.

[Ian]

Our Forum friend, Battara, is an excellent silversmith and experienced in several of these techniques. I would very much like to hear from him how he uses these terms, and also if he has any pictures to post that illustrate the manner in which the various methods are applied.

Thanks Jose.

Ian.

[Battara]

Hi folks. First I want to thank you Ian for your kind feedback. Second, I will try to upload the pictures in the right places:

INLAY:

Deep grooves are cut into a harder material (ideally at different angles) and then a softer materal is inserted. For example, on Ian's barong, I had to re-engrave the grooves - cut deeper into the grooves - into the steel. Then I took softer brass wire and hammered it into the grooves. This method of decoration makes the softer metal more permanent and thicker. Often it is then polished down to the level of the harder material. Here is an example of the brass inlay I did on Ian's barong blade:

[Battara]

chasing:

Technically, the term "chasing" is named after the process of taking a chasing tool, a straight punch with a straight beveled head in the form of a "v" (point down) and as the artist hammers, the artist moves the tool across the surface in simple straight lines or large archs (there are different ways to do this which I will not get into).

What has also been subsumed under "chasing" is the process of hammering soft metals with punches with difrerent shaped heads. The artist would hammer the punches onto the surface of the sheetmetal. These indentations then would start to form a design. Here is the scabbard to a silver headed Sulu kris I made. It was my first attempt at chasing silver:

[Battara]

repoussee:

Repoussee, as correctly identified, is using the same chasing tools, but instead of hammering on top of the sheet metal, it is hammering at first from underneath the sheet metal. This pushes the metal out from underneath, buldging it into forms. After that is done, then the artist flips it onto the other side and chases or hammers from the front to bring crispness and more detail. Here some examples, one of a copper plate, and one of a silver coconut bowl:

[Battara]

neillo:

Neillo is a completely different animal. In use of silver, one may engrave or hollow out the background sections of silver to make the others stand out. In the recessed areas a special lead-sulfer-oxide solution is applied that blackens the recessed areas of the silver. This is more than simple oxidation because it develops a thick plaque of oxidation that lasts longer than just black or brown patina on silver (which enhances value when taken off unlike bronze). This is a very common method used on Russian shaskas and kindjals. It can only be used on silver. Here is a picture of some common Thai jewelry where neillo is used as background as well as on the shaska from Oriental-Arms. Both cases are of course made of silver:

[Battara]

koftgari:

Koftgari is a technique that first scars the hard metal, say steel, by incising or cutting lines into the surface. Then the artist takes very thin or flat wire made of soft metal, like silver or gold, and hammers this "tape" onto the cut area. The metal "tape" will be hammered into the incisions and thus will be held in place. It is important to note that these incisions are not as deep and thus the soft metal decoration can wear over time if not careful. Although not as permanent as inlay, the artist can produce more elaborate designs. Most of the examples of koftgari come from 15th-16th century India. Here is an example of heavy silver koftgari on a steel Balinese ceremonial axe (notice the lines on the steel):

[Battara]

If there are any other questions, I would be happy to try my best to answer them
(or just make up the answers :D )

Jose

PS: Ian, I love your choice of avatars. :D

[Mare Rosu]

Battara
I would like to thank you sir for the great information.
You are one in house "google" information center. :)
You asked but not to me, for any other questions, so if I may I would like to ask a question of my own. I hesitate to do so as it will defiantly show just how low on the learning curve I reside.
Anyway I sure would like to see the same type of description that you used for the inlaying ....etc, that is a picture with an explanation, of the main type of Daggers that are posted from time to time on this forum.
Sort of a pictorial with description of the "standard" form, again like, what is a PESH KABZ? a KARUD?, KERIS? DHA, etc. I know this is a BIG undertaking and my take several forum folks input (RADU are you reading this?), but the knowledge that you have as well as the others of this forum is outstanding. It just would help me as a new collector, as well as others, I think, to have a thread on this forum where one could go to see what the experts are talking about.
I should have started a new thread to ask this question but
wilked aka Khun Deng
question was so great it got me thinking about my question.
Thanks again for the information.

[Mark]

Great explanations! Thanks for clearing everything up. So, koftgari is indeed an appropriate term for the decoration often seen on dha blades (it is interesting that in SEA koftgari they tend to roughen a larger area on which to apply the design, which sort of frames the whole thing).

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

Jose, Can't thank you enough, I felt like I had been missing somewhat of the explainations in the posts being ignorant of the correct terms. Your concise explanations along with the photos make this remarkably easy to pick up. So if I have this right now, the scabbard on Mark's 1798 dha is repousse and what I had been reffering to as neillo on Ayutthaya period swords is actually kaftgari. Damn I'm glad I asked and even happier you answered.

Eris, Excellent suggestion! Especially on many of the Caucasian and Turkish weapons I tend to skim through those for which I've no visual picture to refresh my memory. I would take this one step further and recommend a drop down menu along the top of the toolbar that you click on and get a list of blade types by name and a quick click would bring up a small dialogue box that would allow you to see a representative blade and still read the post. What of it Lee can this software do that?

[Battara]

You can have repousse and neillo on a sword at the same time. The silver work on the scabbard is repousse. The silver work on the blade is kofgari. Glad this helps.

[RhysMichael]

Thanks so much that corrects alot of my misconceptions.

[Yannis]

Battara,

Thank you for the input.

Often on old swords and knives we see great artwork that we admire. Anyone who collects has something that he loves more. I think this topic is ideal to share our personal taste of art. I start first with my love, I hope some of you will join:

Gentlemen :) The throat of the scabbard of a caucasian kindjal. Chassing in center, niello all around

[Battara]

Yannis, that is some beautifully repoussed and neillod work. Excellently executed. Thank you for sharing this.

[Yannis]

Ops! I thought it was "chasing" because it is hammered from the front side. I am not good student after all :o

[Mare Rosu]

Yannis
Thanks for the suggestion to share our good stuff for review!


Battara
I was going to make an attempt to say just what type the inscription was, after studying you information, but chickened out! Would you please tell me what type the inscription on the blade is and maybe even the hilt and sheath in the back ground.
Thanks

[Battara]

Yannis

My apologies. :o I think I was seeing an optical illusion (or a senor moment :D ). From this other computer screen, I can now see that in fact it is chased. You're right in that chased is exclusively from the top down onto the metal.

Mare Rosu

Your inscription appears to possibly be a bismallah ("name of God") and done in gold koftgari with some line engraving around the borders of the bismallah. You can even see a little of the koftgari wearing at the edges. Overall, excellent condition of koftgari. :)

The scabbard in the background is difficult to see. If you could post clearer pictures, that would be helpful. :) I would take a stab at a possible mixture of soldering of silver pieces and silver stylized wire with perhaps some chasing, though again, I would need clearer details.

The hilt section in the foreground appears to be repoussed, although I have seen and done some chasing work that, if done the right way, can appear to be repoussed like this silver scabbard section that I chased years ago (my second attempt at a scabbard):

[Battara]

As you can see, one can be fooled because the metal is pushed back in parts allowing only the none hammered parts to remain looking like they are pushed out. It can become very confusing at times.

Another note: to repousse something one needs to use thinner sheet metal. Chasing, on the other hand, can be used on almost any thickness.

[Rick]

What kind of wood Jose ?

I really like the design on the band also !

[Mare Rosu]

Battara;
Scabbard for your inspection/opinion.
Thanks for your help! :)

[Yannis]

Battara,

No need for apologies. I have seen the same illusion myself, in photos and in reality under certain light :) Maybe because of the contrast with niello.

Someone told me that niello over flat silver may peel away, that's why it is more common the combination with chasing. Is this true?

In this particular scabbard niello is on flat silver and it looks high polished. The chassing in the middle is plain silver.

[Yannis]

Mare Rosu

Excellent work! I guess persian wootz blade with ottoman fittings

[Battara]

Rick

The wood is burled walnut on top. Thank you. I extrapolated the design from the kris hilt patterns in the kris shown as my avatar. I tried to match the theme done in swassa on the hilt:

[Battara]

Mare Rosu

Thank you for the clearer picture. I would say a mixture of hard soldering of patterned silver wire elements at the throat, then some repousse, then further down some embossing:

embossing : when first chasing the design onto the metal sheet, then afterwards flipping the sheet around and hammering from underneath. This makes a slightly different effect than repousse (where one hammers from underneath first .

Another note: it looks like the scabbard at least has Iragi influence and maybe from Bagdad.

Yannis

I would not be surprised that what you say is true. Instead of an oxidation only, niello is a thick plaque. On a plain smooth surface there would be less to which it could adhere, as opposed to a textured surface or at minimum a recessed area where it would have more to which to cling. Thus chasing or texturing the silver is most often done with the metal before niello is applied.

[rahman]

Where can we get the niello material, and how is it used/applied?

[Alam Shah]

Good question, rahman. I need some too. For touch-up work...:)

[knife7knut]

Battara:
Many thanks for the descriptions of the various techniques.I do have a question though:On the scabbard of the kindjal that Yannis posted,the beaded edges look almost like granulation. Is it possible to granulate silver or does that apply strictly to gold work?
I was curious because I read an article many years ago where a well-known knife maker was commissioned to re-create the so-called,"King Tut dagger" .He stated that one of the hardest things he had to do in the re-creation was the granuliziation of the gold that was seemingly everywhere on the knife.There were other problems working the gold but that was a real stumbling point.
My curiosity was aroused when I saw the picture. Thank you.
Cheers
Ray Smith aka knife7knut

[Battara]

Regarding neillo: since I don't work with neillo, I will have to look up some things and then post a reply in a day or so.

Regarding granulation: yes, granulation can be done with silver or gold. Granulation is difficult period partly it uses an oven at high temperatures. The problem partly comes in that one must get the metal at just the right temperature so that it will not melt into a pure liquid but just enough to bead by itself. Today, we don't make much use of ovens like they did long ago, especially not here in the West.

[GuyM]

Battara,

thanks for the excellent explanations! You've given us the hand, now I'd like to have the arm: could you possibly post some picture of work in progress? It would give us an even better understanding of how each technique is applied. I'm interested in the koftgari in particular, and some others I know in the repousse and chasing.
Also and alternatively, could you recommend some books about those techniques, something like 'Koftgari for dummies'?

Thanks a bunch for sharing,

Guy

[Battara]

I apologize for not getting back sooner. I am battling strep throat and enfluenza :( .

As far as "Koftgari for Dummies" there is nothing written. In fact, the only koftgari done at present is in India. If anyone finds a book, please let me know. Stuff in process....little tougher. If I bump into anything, I will post. Will get back with the niello question soon.

[Jens Nordlunde]

There are books which can be concidered - 'Koftgari for Dummies', but it is not in one book - and some of the books are old. Hendley for one, Watt is anothe place to look and I am sure that there are others, so if someone wants to put it together, it should be possible.

Jens

[GuyM]

Battara,

you said the only koftgary done these days is in India, surely the technique must be known and practiced elsewhere, no?. I've talked to someone in a weapons tradeshow here in Switzerland who was decorating rifles with a technique that sounds very much like koftgari (unfortunately, I didn't note down contact information and didn't have much time to discuss this particular technique longer).
I suppose however, that such craftmen learn their art from a master and not from books, so the Koftgari For Dummies manual is a long shot. :-(

Jens,
Sorry for the newbie question, but can you please give more indications about Hendley and Watt? Are they book sellers, or publishers?

Thanks

[Alam Shah]

Where can we get the niello material, and how is it used/applied? Niello is a method of decorating metal objects using engraving techniques.

A method of decorating metal first used in Persia.
The desired pattern is cut rather deeply into the object to be ornamented and
the hollow filled with molten alloy of silver, copper, lead. It is then heated, rubbed with borax,
again heated, allowed to cool, rubbed smooth and burnished.

Darkened areas remain in the crevices after the object is polished. ;)
(ref: G.C.Stone, A glossary of the construction, decoration and use of arms and armour, pg:469).

Not an easy process, skills and tools required.

[Antonio Cejunior]

Dan and Jose,

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise on these examples.
I certainly can only applaude and thank you for sharing all these photographs and technical explanations.

Superb!!! :)

[Yannis]

The desired pattern is cut rather deeply into the object to be ornamented and
the hollow filled with molten alloy of silver, copper, lead. It is then heated, rubbed with borax,
again heated, allowed to cool, rubbed smooth and burnished.
Darkened areas remain in the crevices after the object is polished. ;)


Alam
I am not an expert on decoration but I have seen a lot of niello, new and old, and I am not sure that it is made with this technique. In places that niello is worn, there is no engraving under. I think they made it direct on silver.
Battara?

[Jens Nordlunde]

Guy,

I referred to two books; sorry I should have been more precise.
Th.H. Hendley: Damascening on Steel or Iron, as Practised in India.
Georg Watt: Indian Art at Delhi 1903.

Here are a few explanations of how some the different decorations were made, and at the end you will find a picture. With a little bit of luck, you will be able to see the hatched area.

Bidri.
Bidri is an ancient way of decorating metal and other materials. Originally gold and/or silver were inlaid in copper or steel. The technique is said to have come to India from Persia around the 15th century, and was/is especially practiced around Bidar (Deccan), where the technique was refined.
The object was caste in moulds of red clay, with a mixture of wax and resin covering the mould. The alloy used is zinc, copper and lead. Then the object is roughly polished and the design drawn. The design is cut out with a chisel and the grove is cleaned with e.g. limejuice, but it is not polished as the roughen surface will help to hold the silver wire. The wire is hammered down in the cut out design. A combination of chemicals from common salt, saltpetre, copper sulphate and Sal ammoniac is applied, after which the metal turns jet-black. Another source mentions: The Bidri design is dipped in a boiled solution of natural earth found only at the Bidar Fort. A final polishing with sandpaper, charcoal and coconut and the shining silver is in sharp contrast to alloy.

Damascening.
A grove is cut in the metal and a gold or silver thread is hammered into the grove. The grove is two third of the thread. The bottom and the sides of the grove are left rough to make the thread stick better.
Nearly all men engaged in damascening in the Punjab are Mohamedans. In the Rajputana, in addition, Hindo workmen are employed.
In Sirohi true damascening is made at its best (Hendley: Damascene).

Gilding.
When gilding, the part of the weapon to be decorated is finely cut cross or crosshatched with a graver, and treated with acid to give it a broken surface. The very thin gold or silver leave is rolled on, and the decoration heated and burnished.
When a very thin gold or silver plate carefully is hammered onto another material, especially iron/steel it will make a molecular connection with the other material.
Another way to do it is to do it electrolytic.

Koftgari (false Damascening).
Koftgari or false Damascening is made by crosshatching the area to be decorated deeper that by gilding, the crosshatching is then cleaned with lime, and silver or gold thread is hammered on to the hatched area in the design wanted. The blade is heated and the decoration is either left to stand in relief or filed down to the surface. The decoration is then polished, often with an agate.

Niello.
Niello is said to have come from Egypt, where it was used for decoration in the classical times, from where it spread to Europe in the middle Ages. It was known in Kiev in the tenth to thirteenth centuries and reappeared in Russia in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, where it remained in use in the imperial period.
Niello (latin. Nigellus=blackish) is a black metallic alloy of sulfur, copper, silver and usually lead. The metal surface is brushed with a borax solution as a flux, and the alloy is rubbed into the engraved pattern on silver or gold, and then fired. When the object has cooled, and has been polished the surface is shining blank and the Niello black.


Jens

[GuyM]

Jens,

excellent, thanks for the references, explanations and picture.

Guy

[Battara]

GuyM, without seeing the piece in hand, it would be hard to speculate if what you saw in Europe was koftgari or inlay. I would suspect it was inlay. Lots of inlay was done on European arms.

Yannis, you are right. Niello is used on silver.

[GuyM]

GuyM, without seeing the piece in hand, it would be hard to speculate if what you saw in Europe was koftgari or inlay. I would suspect it was inlay. Lots of inlay was done on European arms.

Well, the artist who was demonstrating his work explained his technique exactly as you and Jens did: first the surface is crosshatched then the decorative metal is hammered onto the hatched area to form the design.
That's why I'm surprised when you say the art is practised only in India, perhaps it has been revived in Europe recently.

Guy

[Battara]

Finally able to get back to you on niello:

A sulfur oxide mix is used and placed in the recesses of the silver work. It is a layer of material and heat is used. Some one mentioned engraving - although engraving is not part of the niello process, engraving, chasing, stampinng, and other techniques can be used to depress the silver thus making it possible for the niello chemicals to sink and hold. Only the raised surfaces are cleaned of material and show exposed silver.

Regarding kofgari:

GuyM - for some reason I was not catching on to what you were saying. 2 days ago it hit me and you are correct - Europe has been using in effect the same or similar technique, only they call it damascening. Basically the same process though - I have seen it on earlier 15th and 16th century Spanish earred daggers and even on Italian ornate hilts. I apologize for my brain not catching on sooner (tried a brain transplant once, and...well...um...couldn't find any donors :eek: ). Again, as I mentioned earlier, today I think it is only done in India.

[Marc]

Regarding kofgari:

GuyM - for some reason I was not catching on to what you were saying. 2 days ago it hit me and you are correct - Europe has been using in effect the same or similar technique, only they call it damascening. Basically the same process though - I have seen it on earlier 15th and 16th century Spanish earred daggers and even on Italian ornate hilts. I apologize for my brain not catching on sooner (tried a brain transplant once, and...well...um...couldn't find any donors :eek: ). Again, as I mentioned earlier, today I think it is only done in India.
I'm afraid I have to disagree about damascening being only done today in India... :)

There's a quite big damascening industry in Spain, with a tradition of centuries. Today, it centers around the Toledo Schools of damascening. Their work can be seen in all the gift shops that plague the country, with a wide range of qualities and applied to the most varied objects, though mainly focused on jewellery and decoration. Some examples, taken from a what could be a typical gift shop (http://www.elcoquigifts.com/jewelry1.asp):

http://www.elcoquigifts.com/images/PLGraphic1.jpg http://www.elcoquigifts.com/miva/graphics/00000001/damas1moorishbangle.jpg http://www.elcoquigifts.com/images/JBracelet.jpg

High-end Spanish damascening has been considered a prized collectible (link (http://www.khalili.org/3_ZUL/index.htm))for a long time, with the 19th c. seeing some of the most refined masters of the art, as were the Zuloaga family.

http://www.khalili.org/3_ZUL/images/3_popimage_vol_III.jpg

The main technique is essentially a variation of the koftgari process (link (http://www.aimjewelry.com/damascene.htm)). It is supposed to have arrived to Spain with the Moorish invasions at the beginning of the 8th c.

I'm also sure this tradition is alive in other places, as well. :cool:

[Yannis]

I am not sure that it is made with this technique. In places that niello is worn, there is no engraving under. I think they made it direct on silver.

I have to change this statement. I checked recently some more old niello and indeed in some cases it is applied into engraving as Jens says.

and the alloy is rubbed into the engraved pattern on silver or gold, and then fired. When the object has cooled, and has been polished the surface is shining blank and the Niello black.

Now I believe that niello is applied both methods: Direct on silver or into engraved pattern. Common sense says that second method gives more endurance.

[Battara]

Thank you Marc. I was not aware of this.

Yannis, both are correct. Niello must be applied directly onto silver, but only in the recessed areas of the silver. Recessed areas are done by use of chasing, engraving, planishing, stamping, etc. Thus it will have more endurance over time as you suggest. As I mentioned, only the raised areas (those that stand out) will not be niello but exposed silver.

[Battara]

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