Beneath the Surface: Contemporary Basse-taille Style Enamel Techniques for Pattern and Imagery

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.

Metal/raw materials (note fine silver is optional):

• 2"x2" min. x 20g copper sheet - for practice

• 2"x2" x fine silver sheet - 22g or 24g (Rio Grande)

• 2 x 3"x3" brass sheet - 18g (Rio Grande)

Enamel supplies (note the instructor recommends transparent Thompson enamels): ​

• Thompson enamels - any you wish to use (Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x overglaze black or any painting enamel (Etsy)

• 1 x palette knife (Blick)

Hand tools and equipment: 

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)

• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)

• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)

• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rawhide / plastic mallet (Rio Grande)

• 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)

• 1 x small steel ruler (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)

• 1 x planishing hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x flat sheet rolling mill (Rio Grande or other)

• 1 x adjustable graver handle (Rio Grande)

• 1 x carbide flat engraver - 1.2mm and/or 2mm (Contenti)

• 1 x etching setup for silver (How To Here)

• 1 x bottle of cupric nitrate (Science Company)

• 1 x electrical tape (Amazon)

• 1 x scribe or etching needle - very pointy (Rio Grande)

Enameling setup (if using kiln):

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)

• 1 x kiln - mini or full size (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x sifter set - 60, 100, 150 mesh (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x steel screen - for your kiln size  (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x steel trivet - for your kiln size (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x firing fork / spatula (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x tongs or tweezers - for moving hot objects (Rio Grande)

• 1 x crockpot or lidded glass container - for pickle (Amazon)

• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sink or large tub of water - for cleaning enamel

Enameling setup (if using torch):

• all enameling items listed above - minus kiln

• 1 x torch setup - Silversmith or similar style  (Rio Grande)

• 1 x #2 or larger torch tip - if using Silversmith (Rio Grande)

• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)

• 1 x tripod or fire bricks with screen (Rio Grande)

Other/miscellaneous items: 

• dust mask

• nail polish remover or acetone

• nail polish - opaque

• very small plastic containers with lids

• brass brush or tooth brush - for cleaning metal

• liquid soap for cleaning

• eye protection

• glass containers - for mixing enamels

• towels / rags

• fan and open window - for ventilation