THE ART OF CHASING & REPOUSSE': Sbalzo & Cesello

Davide Bigazzi’s handcrafted jewelry and hollowware are a blend of contemporary artistry and old world craftsmanship that echoes back to his native Florence, Italy. Capturing the intrinsic beauty and sculptural qualities of metal by employing chasing & repousse` has been his lifelong passion.

During his early teens, Davide apprenticed with Bino Bini (1916-2007), the renowned Florentine metalsmith and sculptor, aiding in commissions for the Vatican, national banks, churches, etc.. Bino, one of the most notable Italian artists of our day, passed on a chasing & repousse' legacy which Davide is committed to preserving via the hands-on workshops he teaches in the U.S. and Italy.

Workshops

Whether you would like to enhance your work or just try your hand at sculpting and moving metal consider the following workshops:

Firma Plate

 

Chasing & Repousse` :: Sbalzo & Cesello

Repousse` (Sbalzo) is the process of forming the contours of a design from the back of a metal sheet using blunt hammer-struck punches (a chisel-like tool). Chasing (Cesello) refers to the detailing of a design from the front using smaller, specially shaped punches.

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Raising a bowl before it is placed facedown in pitch.

A design is drawn directly on the back of the metal and then traced with a liner.

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imageVolume, depth, and shape of the design are formed by large punches (ceselli) and heavy hammer blows into the back of the piece.

The silver is annealed after it has been work-hardened.

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imageOn the front side the details of the design are refined using smaller hand crafted punches (ceselli).

Artist's Statement

imageThe ancient chasing and repoussè techniques are the purest and most expressive forms of metalsmithing. They bridge the worlds of jewelry and sculpture.
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Capturing the intrinsic beauty and sculptural qualities of metal is a life long passion.