Keum-Boo Masterclass with Hendrike Barz-Meltzer

Delivered in person at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, this course will help you:
 

• Strengthen your understanding of metallurgy principles and decorative surface techniques, from material preparation and gold application through to finishing, allowing you to begin exploring how fine gold detail can be integrated into your jewellery practice in a controlled and cost-effective way.
• Expand your skills and learn a highly specialised precious metal technique that can be incorporated into bespoke and production jewellery. 
• Develop your processes with cold connection by working with a range of micro-riveting methods, supporting the development of non-soldered construction techniques that can be adapted to a variety of design contexts.
• Build confidence in working with precious metals through practical exercises focused on heat management, pattern planning and component assembly.
• Deepen your approach to surface design by reflecting on pattern, material contrast and placement with opportunities to experiment and explore ideas through both sketching and making.
• Build a bank of technical pieces and reference samples that can support further development and provide a foundation for future projects or more advanced technical study.
• Develop a technical workflow that can be repeated confidently in your own workshop. 

With twelve hours of teaching across two days and a maximum of 10 participants, this masterclass offers the time and individual tutor support needed to develop a genuine understanding of the Keum-Boo process. You'll have time to ask questions and refine your approach with individual tutor feedback, with the opportunity to explore the following areas:

• Preparing and cleaning silver using depletion gilding
• Cutting and handling 24ct gold foil
• Applying gold to silver using heat and burnishing tools
• Finishing surfaces using polishing and oxidation
• Creating small-scale rivets (domed, tube, flush and moving)
• Using cold connections for design and assembly
• Developing visual compositions and working with pattern

The course includes opportunities for sketching and reflection as part of the design process. You’ll work with a range of test materials including silver, copper and 24ct gold foil, and receive handouts covering the key steps.

All essential tools and materials are provided as part of the course fee.

Please bring:

• Your own basic bench tools (e.g., saw frame, hand files, pliers)
• Sketchbook, pencils and coloured pencils
• Reading glasses or magnification visor
• Any personal design ideas or inspirational material

You will be provided with:

• A generous quantity of 24ct gold foil (50 x 100mm), silver sheet (40 x 40 x 0.7mm), silver wire and tube for experimentation and technical samples.
• Copper materials for test pieces
• Tools and equipment for Keum-Boo and riveting
• Face covering and gloves for safety
• Design handouts and technique guides

Intermediate: Practical experience and understanding of listed skills required.

This course is designed for jewellers and makers with some workshop experience who are looking to develop a new decorative and precious metal technique. You should feel comfortable with basic bench skills such as annealing, sawing and filing. Previous experience of soldering and forming is recommended, although no prior experience of Keum-Boo is required.

Teaching takes place in our Silversmithing Workshop, a dedicated space where all participants will be based for the duration of the course.

We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.

To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre training programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org 

We believe that talent should not be held back. Here at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we are open, accessible and inclusive to all. Our Access Grants help anyone to build thriving creative careers, supporting jewellers, silversmiths and allied industry practitioners to access our training courses for free.

If you need help to cover fees for our business and technical skills short courses, please apply for one of our Access Grants. To find out more and read our application criteria, click here

The Access Grants are delivered by the Goldsmiths' Centre and funded by the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.