Chasing and Repoussé

Chasing and Repoussé are methods of shaping and decorating the front or outside of metal objects by making indentations using punches (tools) and chasing hammers. Metal is embossed by punching and hammering a design from the back, then polishing the front with a chasing hammer, producing a three-dimensional base-relief surface.








This is an example of the techniques in copper. For this piece, I used a chasing hammer, a bowl of hot pitch and repoussé punches. I trace the design onto tracing paper and with a scribe, follow all the lines of the pattern transferred the carbon marks onto the surface of the metal. Only after I had my design on the attached piece of copper to the hot pitch did I start the process of my work.