Raise your own silver whisky tumbler, three day course

Description

Master the art of hand raising, with contemporary silversmith Charlotte Tollyfield, and create your very own Sterling Silver whisky tumbler. One of Charlotte’s most successful designs, this intensive course allows you to craft the perfect vessel for your favourite dram. Ideal for the true connoisseur. You will spend three days with Charlotte in her workshop in the heart of Sheffield, where you will use the techniques of annealing, blocking, raising and plannishing to create your own whisky tumbler to have hallmarked and take home. Charlotte will greet you at the entrance to the Persistence Works studio building and accompany you to her studio where you will start the first day with an introduction to the workshop and all health and safety procedures before being introduced to the project and given a brief outline of what you can hope to achieve. You will then be taken through a practical demonstration of annealing – the process of heating the metal to soften it, ready for working – and the blocking process – a hammer technique used to begin shaping the bowl. You will then be given the chance to practice on some demo pieces in order to get a feel for the tools before starting on your own piece of silver. Charlotte will then give a practical demonstration of the raising technique where again you will have the chance to practice on a demo piece before continuing with your own tumbler. Raising is a repetitive process that requires you to complete a number of rounds or “courses” of the same hammer technique to achieve the desired shape. Charlotte will be encouraging you to have achieved a straight sided ‘cup’ form by the end of the first day. The second day will start with a short assessment on how you feel your tumbler is shaping up and a brief talk on how to start refining the shape before you continue with the raising process. Once you have your tumbler in its rough final form Charlotte will demonstrate the plannishing hammer technique – the process by which you achieve a smooth finish to the surface of the metal and even out the final shape. As with the previous day, you will have the chance to practice this technique before continuing with your own tumbler. Again, this is another repetitive – though more gentle, and quite satisfying – hammering process, where you will produce a beautifully rippling, hammered texture. By the end of the second day you will be able to see how your tumbler is settling into its final shape and get a good feel for how it sits in your hand. The third day will start with the finishing off of the plannishing process (if needed), before Charlotte demonstrates and allows you to practice hammering in the base of your tumbler. This is the tricky part, and very important if you want to avoid spills! You will then go on to neaten and clean up the top rim and finish the day with a final clean up and making a decision on where to put the hallmark before sitting back to admire your handiwork and rest achy limbs with a well-earned brew. You will leave your tumbler with Charlotte to take to The Sheffield Assay Office. The hallmarking process can take up to a week, and Charlotte will make arrangements with you for collection or delivery when it is ready. Each day will be broken up with a morning and afternoon tea break (if desired) and a 30-40 minute lunch break.

What's included in the price?

All materials are included in the course price and all tools will be provided by Charlotte at her workshop. Tea and coffee with fruit and biscuits will be freely available, but participants must provide their own packed lunch. There are sandwich shops, cafes and supermarkets located at Sheffield Station and Town Centre, both approximately a 10-15 minute walk away if preferred. Charlotte is able to provide aprons and ear protection, but if you have your own that you feel more comfortable wearing you can bring it with you. You may also wish to bring any wrist or elbow support if you feel you may need it. Flat shoes with a covered toe are essential as is comfortable clothing. The Persistence Works building, where Charlotte is based, is a 10-15 minute walk from both the Sheffield central Train Station and Bus Station, and a 15-20 minute walk from the Supertram stops at Sheffield Station or Fitzalan Square. Whilst Persistence Works does not have its own parking facilities, there is some street parking directly outside and on nearby roads, as well as several carparks within 3-15 minutes walk. Charlotte can provide full details at time of booking.

Cancellation policy

Easy - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Charlotte Tollyfield Contemporary Bespoke Silverware

with Craft Courses since 2017

Message the tutor

I am a Sheffield based silversmith, designing and making my own contemporary silverware and copper pieces that I exhibit throughout the UK. I also take on both private and corporate commission work. More recently I have started offering silversmithing courses from my workshop in the heart of Sheffield's cultural quarter, focusing on the key skills of this ancient and noble trade.