Inlay, koftgari, repousse, chasing and neillo

knife7knut · 8th March 2005, 01:40 AM

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 · 8th March 2005, 03:20 AM

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 · 8th March 2005, 06:33 AM

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 · 15th March 2005, 01:47 AM

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 · 15th March 2005, 04:48 PM

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 · 15th March 2005, 07:32 PM

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

8th March 2005, 06:33 AM	#3
GuyM Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 18	Pictures of work in progress 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

8th March 2005, 01:40 AM	#1
knife7knut Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 31	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

8th March 2005, 03:20 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	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.

15th March 2005, 01:47 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	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.

15th March 2005, 04:48 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	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

15th March 2005, 07:32 PM	#6
GuyM Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 18	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