My fascination with history has always been tied to material culture. Colonial Williamsburg operated Carter's Grove until 2003 as a satellite facility of Colonial Williamsburg, with interpretive programs. Silversmithing was among the first trades practiced in the Historic Area. My interests resulted in a BFA in metalsmithing in 2005 and later an MFA in metalsmithing in 2010. Working here lets me demonstrate hand engraving in front of the public in an 18th-century production setting. The Official Website of Colonial Williamsburg: Explore the historical shops, homes and gardens of an early American community returned to its 18th-century … If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. But while tradesmen worked at the shop, others were about a mile away at a workshop that opened in 1976. “We brought the past into the present.”. Created with Sketch. see it. I was studying maritime archaeology at the time and was interested in colonial-era shipping, and I would often bring that research into my interpretation. Francis Blair, the minister of an Anglican Church in Newport News, Virginia. The work of a Silversmith in the 18th century was considered art and is still true today. Today’s silversmiths follow the same basic steps as their counterparts from the past. This past week, I was treated to a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Va.—the first English settlement in the U.S. Humble silver is transformed into gleaming artistry in the Silversmith's shop. It includes the oldest piece of silver that Colonial Williamsburg received as a In 1998, I moved over to the engraving shop. Then they hammer it into sheet and shape the sheet on an anvil. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Before then, silversmiths focused on producing large quantities of goods to sell. So, in front of the public, parts of products would be made the 18th-century way. The emphasis on production manifested itself in the way smiths greeted guests. They melt silver into a mold to form a solid ingot. Find the perfect gift for someone special with unique and exclusive Colonial Williamsburg jewelry. Later, Craig made a pair of earrings for Washington’s stepdaughter, Patsy Custis. Discover craftsmanship in more than 20 trades, where modern-day practitioners use 18th-century tools and techniques to apprentice in — and eventually master — blacksmithing, woodworking or gunsmithing, just to name a few. We’re real people who are proud of our craftsmanship. Jones, who is African American, is often asked whether there were any black silversmiths in the 18th century. Skilled smiths transformed coins and outdated silverware into fashionable pieces for the dining room, parlour, and personal adornment. “We’re not just teachers. They were a good way to "store" your assets. I was introduced to hand engraving at this time by Master Engraver Herbert LaFountain. And brass cuff links set with enameled copper, in imitation of gems, required me to dredge up from my memory enameling skills I had learned 37 years earlier.”. As a teenager, I resolved that if I was going to pursue art and scholarship, I didn’t want to starve in a garret. There are some Scottish materials. Preservation was also made less likely by the fact that silversmiths mostly made small articles, though they repaired both large and small ones. Interestingly, it was a Williamsburg silversmith of a generation earlier who established a high water mark of colonial newspaper advertising. His ad said he made “all sorts of Jeweller’s Work, in the best Manner.” Craig lived and worked at the current site of the Golden Ball from 1765 until he died in the early 1790s. ©2020 The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. 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