Drinking Bowl

Sterling silver – 100mm

The thing I find the most pleasing about this heavy silver drinking bowl is the way my fingers fall into the channels I have beaten into the sides. It was first raised from a flat disc of silver and filled with pitch to support the metal. I then drove the channels inward. After removing the pitch I worked from the inside with punches to sharpen the edges of the design. I also hammered the lip to thicken the edge, strengthening the the cup and further improving its looks.

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Chalice

Sterling silver, stones, enamels, pearls, and stone bowl – 160 mm high

When I acquired this stone bowl I knew I would have to work out how to make one of these. There were many difficulties to get through, including forming the knob in the center around a ball shaped stake, and only then considering how to get the stake out. As with the Byzantine examples at Saint Mark’s the straps which hold the metal parts around the stone bowl are attached with hinges, so that if need be the pins can be removed, and the whole work taken apart.

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Mazers

Sterling silver, maple wood, bloodstone, and enamel – 150mm x 220mm – SOLD

The lids on these maplewood mazers are each turned from same block of wood as their bowls so that the grain matches up at the seam. The curved and tapered base of each mazer is six sided, and is fabricated from fifteen seperate pieces of silver. They were quite challenging to put together. The bowls are lipped with silver, and have a small notch to make sure the woodgrain is properly aligned. The lids are decorated with champleve enamels, and have edge catches in the shape of fluer du lis. The handles are also six sided, and set with bloodstone that I cut special for this project.

Detail pictures showing enamel, inside of lid and handle on top.

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Drinking Horns

Sterling silver, horn, beeswax – one small one large – Both Sold – Custom Orders Welcome

I make a great many drinking horns, most custom, but these two are a good example of the sort I usually do. In both examples the fine lines are engraved, while the textures, and larger markings are done with punches. The silver parts are fixed to the horn with tiny brass rivets, and I nearly always provide a ring by which the horn can be hung, The lining is beeswax, so these are not good for hot drinks, however if they do get nasty the wax can be removed with hot water, and then replaced.

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Beaker

Sterling silver, stones, white gold, and enamel. – 80mm x 190mm – SOLD

The bulk of the metalworking on this project was fairly straight forward. There were two main challenges. The first was making enamels curved to conform to the curve of the bottom of the beaker. I got through this one by making forms from firebrick on which to fire them. The second was the little white gold lion holding the enameled shield and wearing the enameled crown. I ended up making the head separate, and with a little cut away area to accommodate the crown. A pin secures the head through the body of the lion, and into the lid. There is a rock crystal set on the inside of the lid over a medallion struck with the same heraldry as on the enamels.

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Silver Spoons

Ever since the discovery and publication of the Thetford Treasure people have been asking me to make historically inspired spoons for them.  These are all sterling silver, though the one with the engraved face has been gilded.  The spoon at bottom is very typical of late Roman table ware, as is the spoon with the looped handle with the Duck shaped terminal.

If you have questions about any of my work, or want to see more detailed images of any of the things you see here do not hesitate to contact me.

Bill Dawson
2103 Harrison Ave. NW  Ste. 2.
P.M.B. #341 Olympia, WA 98502