DESIGNING

The original design is engraved into a heat-tolerant plastic.

MOLDING

This design is placed between two pieces of rubber in an ‘oven’ under intense pressure for roughly 2 hours (vulcanizing.) The rubber forms around the design and takes its shape. The original is removed.

CASTING

A brick of pewter is melted in a pot. Liquid metal is ladeled into the prepared rubber mold (at about 550 F) (see photo above). After the metal cools and the pieces of rubber are separated, there is a rough casting of the design.

FINISHING

Each piece is ground down and cleaned by hand. The recessed areas are blackened, cleaned and tumbled. A buffing wheel is used to give a final satin finish to the front and sides. The piece is hung on a cord, and packaged.