Designwerkstatt - Felix Urs Stuessi

*Class Language : English
In all other classes : Translation assistance from German into English is available.
Please ask for more details, see my homepage www.stuessi.de

Description of Summer classes 2011

11 Argentium July 10th – 16th July.
Argentium, a new 925/000 silver alloy will be presented to those taking part in this workshop. This alloy doesn't tarnish easily, can be hardened (tempered) and is weldable by laser. Course instructor: is Ronda Coryell from San Francisco. She is a goldsmith and jeweller, but also graduated in the teaching of art. She has had a lot of experience in the field of jewellery and received numerous awards in the United States.

12  Anticlastic rising   July 17th – July 23th
Anticlastic raising offers possibilities for design which are inconceivable using conventional methods. By moulding the metal sheet on wave -like irons or sticks, bending is possible in 2 directions, as is the case, for example, with domed bangles. Course instructor: is Ronda Coryell from San Francisco. She is a goldsmith and jeweller, but also graduated in the teaching of art. She has had a lot of experience in the field of jewellery and received numerous awards in the United States.

13  Silversmithing   July 24th - July 30th
It is becoming more and more difficult to find an opportunity to learn this highly interesting technique. Carrying out silversmith work requires competent instruction and lavish equipment with the appropriate tools. Copper and silver sheets can be obtained in the usual quantities and dimensions on the spot. This course offers the opportunity to get to know and practise different classical silversmith techniques.
In charge of the course: Karl Geiger. After his apprenticeship as a gold and silversmith he studied at the College in Schwäbisch-Gmünd. He then worked for eight years for the old-established silversmiths Pochon in Bern, whose roots go back to the 17th century. Due to his professional experience Karl Geiger is familiar with the most demanding techniques.

14  Setting stones  July 31th – August 6th
The making of settings can take up a lot of time. For this reason course participants can obtain stones of their choice before the workshop and then make suitable settings or even pieces of jewellery, which can then be set. For practice during the class settings with stones will be provided. This course is designed for participants with previous experience. Talented students can work with all kinds of more difficult settings, Course instructor is Christiane Matthes who is a master jewel setter. She taught at the School for Goldsmiths in Pforzheim and works for the renowned jewellery firm Choppard.

15 Wax models and casting August 7th – August 13th
In this casting workshop smaller models, pieces of jewellery or little figures will be modelled in wax, embedded in plaster and prepared for casting. After being dried the wax is melted out and the liquid silver poured into the form using the hand or table centrifuge. A further interesting casting technique with Ossa Sepia will be presented. Afterwards the object formed will be refinish
The course instructor: Ulrich Bruppacher is a jeweller and photographer and also forms large objects of art.
He has a lot of experience in casting techniques and regularly teaches on this subject.

16 Granulation August 14th – August 20th
Granulating is a very old technique where little beads of precious metal are melted (fused) onto jewellery. After an intro-duction illustrated with slides, the manufacture of granulated metal will be demonstrated in this workshop as well as the application of patterns on jewellery of silver granulated metal. Those taking part can either buy ready-made granulated metal from the instructor or use what they have made themselves, and as long as there is a sufficient supply, take these home for further work. Pieces of jewellery, which the course participants have made themselves, can also be granulated, however these must not have any soldered points. Course instructor is Ulrich Haager. He is a master goldsmith, graduate designer and teaches as a technical instructor at the School for Goldsmiths in Pforzheim.

17 Traditional Japanese Techniques August 21th - August 27th
Maestro Kageyama will make 3 traditional Japanese metal alloys with the participants at the beginning of this course. The recipes were kept a strict secret for many centuries and didn't reach Europe until the 17th century.
Shakudo "Red Copper" is a traditional Japanese metal alloy of copper with 2 - 7% gold. Shipo Shibuichi is a collective term for copper alloys containing silver. Nami Shibuichi is composed of roughly 70% Cu, 29% Ag and 1% Au, and contains various shades of grey. During the second part of the workshop damascene surfaces "Nunomezogan" will be shown and practised. The piece of metal to be worked on is fixed in chasing cement, then the upper surface of the parent material is roughened with a sharp little chisel and following that, a thin metal foil is beatened into this roughened structure and hammered flat. Finally, various patination methods using Japanese recipes such as plum brandy / schnapps will be presented and used. Course instructor Kimiaki Kageyama, who is a Professor and Head of the Department of Metal at Hiko Mizuno Jewelry College in Tokyo, Japan.

18 Mokume Gane August 28th – September 3th
Mokume Gane literally means 'wood grain in metal' which aptly describes the optical effect of this roughly 300-year-old Japanese technique. Thin sheets of copper, silver, palladium or gold and their alloys are welded in several layers on top of each other. Structures (patterns) are worked into the resulting bar through partial removal of the surface area. By subsequently continuing working, the bar becomes a sheet of uniform thickness. This sheet shows patterns of different metals together on the surface area. In this workshop you will be shown how to make a sheet and a ring in Mokume Gane technique. The fabrication of the bar is carried out in a simplified process with the aid of a burner instead of a special furnace. As a result each participant can make Mokume Gane jewellery after the course with little effort. Course instructor is Georg Schulte, 1993 – 1996 apprenticeship as a goldsmith, 1996 – 2002 journeyman, 2003 on-the-job training in Mokume Gane technique, 2005 examination for the master craftsman's diploma and self-employed with his own atelier. He has been an instructor for Mokume Gane and head of the goldsmith workshop Oeding since 2004.

Bed and Self catering farmhouse Gisler Burstberg Braunwald
Beautyful location, very reasonable prices. Famgisler5@bluewin.ch