Introduction to stone setting: casting with stones
Time: 10:00 - 14:30
Location: Keeley Street
This course has now finished
Course Code: VV362
Duration: 3 sessions (over 3 weeks)
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What is the course about?
This course is designed to introduce you to how to bring together casting and stone-setting, both how to prepare settings and mounts when using wax carving and how and when it is appropriate to cast stones directly into metal using moulds made with cuttlefish bones and delft-clay also known as sand-casting.
What will we cover?
- Selecting appropriate stones for casting directly into metal.
- Recognise what ‘heat-shock’ is.
- Identify the considerations for wax carving stone-settings and mounts including shrinkage and wall-thickness.
- Cuttlefish Casting
- Delft-clay casting.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Selecting appropriate stones for casting directly into metal.
- Recognise what ‘heat-shock’ is.
- Identify the considerations for wax carving stone-settings and mounts including shrinkage and wall-thickness.
- Cuttlefish Casting
- Delft-clay casting.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for those with a knowledge of basic metal-jewellery making techniques, including rubover/bezel stone-setting. It is advantageous to have experience of wax-carving, although not essential.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Through practical demonstrations both to the group and to individuals. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
City Lit provides most of the basic tools and equipment you will need for jewellery-making.
We also provide basic materials in reasonable quantities, such as base metals (copper and brass), chemicals and sundries.
We will provide saw blades, sandpaper, burrs and various cubic zirconia gemstones for you to practice with.
If you wish to work in silver you will be advised how to calculate how much you need and where to buy it from.
Particularly on this course you must wear appropriate covered footwear and clothing in rm 308, as you will be working with molten metal. For heath and safety reasons no sandals, open shoes or small pumps can be worn, even in hot weather.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Suitable follow-on courses may include:
VV616 - Precious metal clay: setting stones
VV399 - Beginners' jewellery III
Your tutor will be able to advise you during the course.
Aurelie is a visual artist and jewellery designer who graduated from the Royal College of Art of London in the Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery department. For over 10 years, she has worked as an independent designer, and has created numerous jewellery collections highly recognized by well known galleries (Rob Koudijs, Amsterdam, Tactile, Geneva), museums (MAD of New York, Bellevue Arts Museum of Washington, MUDAC of Lausanne) and fashion websites (Boticca, Lyst). She has received awards including The Catlin Prize 2012 and the Theo Fennell Prize 2011.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.