Category:Decorating metal

The more adventurous of you may wish to have a go at your own metalworking. Bear in mind that metalwork was rarely plain and usually well decorated. This section gives an idea of the techniques employed.

The first step in any metal working is to anneal the work (heat it up), then to cut it to the right size and shape, then anneal it again. This is because any work done to metal will automatically harden it so you may have to anneal the work many times.

All relief decoration (with channels cut or stamped into metal) should be decorated with niello (or a safer modern substitute). This brings out the contrast between the decoration (in black) and the metal surface.