Louise Pederson: May 2012

Precious Metal Clay

Introduction to Precious Metal Clay Precious Metal Clay was developed in the early 1990's by the Mitsubishi Company, using micron sized particles of pure silver or gold water and an organic binder. These products have the working characteristics of clay is malleable and can be sculpted, textured, carved, and pushed into a press mold. After shaping and drying the clay is fired in a kiln or a butane torch. The clay after firing is fine silver .999 pure silver, the gold is 24k. Precious Metal Clay is stronger and is twenty precent lighter, allowing the artist to create larger pieces with out the weight.

Raku Pottery Embellished with Silver Leaves

Bronze and Copper Clays

Bronze and Copper Clay The newest metal clay products are bronze clay and copper clay developed in the United States. Like the precious metal clays, these metal clays can be sculpted, textured, carved, and pushed into a press mold. Learning from trial and error I've been pushing these clays to there limits, creating boxes, hollow forms, sculpted works, and even some wheel thrown pieces. Bronze clay consists of 11% tin 89 % copper, water and non-tonic binding materials. The binding materials vaporize completely during kiln-firing process, leaving a solid bronze piece with a density 90% that of cast bronze. Copper clay consists of pure copper ,water and non-toxic binding materials, when fired leave solid copper piece with a density over 95% that of cast copper. Bronze and copper are the next step in the evolution of metal clay. They provide a incredible artistic range. And, because they are affordable, it can be used to sculpt large pieces or to create one-of-a-kind jewelry. Bronze and copper clay can be pinched, rolled, sculpted and manipulated. In its dried state, it's still highly flexible and easy to carve-an ideal canvas for applying details and finishing touches prior to firing. When fired in a kiln the binder vaporizes, leaving a solid, pure bronze or copper object that can be sawn, shaped, drilled, sanded, patinaed or soldered using traditional jewelry tools and techniques. This exciting medium offers a new world of possibilities for jewelry-makers, artists, and sculptors.