Essay Series

Please Don’t Call Me a “Wirewrapper”

A few weeks ago I was listening to Jay Whaley’s Blogtalkradio interview with Helen Goga, former editor and publisher of The Wire Artist Jeweller magazine.  One of the things that really struck me during the broadcast was the terminology each of them was using.   Without fail, Helen made reference to “wire jewelry” and “wire...

Why “Wire wrapping” is a Traditional Metalsmithing Technique

What, exactly, are “traditional metalsmithing techniques”? I’ve tried to figure it out because I see this phrase all over the place.  So far, the only thing I’ve managed to determine is that it’s a blanket term for an assumed, but ill-defined, set of construction methods a skilled metalworker must know how to use. A couple...