Exploring Die and Punch-Making Out of Scrap Brass

Abstract

This study seeks to expose the making of dies and punches using local technology and materials available to goldsmiths and silversmiths in Ghana. Making of dies and punches is an art which has been in existence for a long time. Currently, it is practised with much complexity and tremendous improvement and the technology is associated more closely with industrial engineering than with handicrafts. Dies and punches are metal matrices which are used for stamping metals either in intaglio or cameo form. In Ghana, the majority of goldsmiths and silversmiths do not use this method to convert their original designs into jewellery, in part because they have little knowledge of it. The technique for production is sand casting using scrap brass. Studio-based practice and descriptive research methods were employed in this study. It was evident in the research that local studio technology supports the uses of scrap brass for making dies and punches. The study recommends that goldsmiths and silversmiths should use studio-based practice to fabricate basic tools such as dies and punches to increase the spectrum of jewellery designs produced.

Keywords: Dies, punches, brass and sand casting