Making an 18th Century Sterling Silver Jefferson Cup

[@bargainbear1483]

Awesome work! I'm a purchaser of silver and have loved the metal for years, and recently have been considering jumping into the art of making things out of it. This video may have pushed me over the edge. Thank you :)

[@ChefAnatoly]

Great Job, I'm proud of you. The world definitely needs more Silver Smiths.

[@vengervoldur6534]

I gave this video a "thumbs up" before I even started watching it. Previous videos have shown that you make high quality products that are truly enjoyable to watch be built. Nothing beats watching a master craftsman in his element. Thank you for this upload and please keep doing them.

[@anthonyrago554]

I work with copper. You have inspired & taught me. Thank you!

[@vengervoldur6534]

That tumble-polishing technique at the end was fantastic! Definitely a thing to keep in mind.

[@philcopley7247]

To me that was absolutely amazing to watch this video, and to see how long it actually took to make this cup WoW, thanks for sharing

[@MarldainLunas]

Just incredible. Its great to see you taking every cautious step that a silversmith would with jewelry.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+New Things Many Colonial silversmiths were also jewelers. With a smaller labor force in the colonies, tradespeople often had to wear multiple hats ;-).

[@albertrasch4793]

Fascinating; what craftsmanship! Thanks for sharing! Albert

[@nunyabiznes4471]

Absolutely beautiful! Excellent job.

[@silverestore]

Great job, Parker! So few people understand how holloware and flatware are created. The silversmiths at Williamsburg do a great job at demonstrating.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Since your comment, I worked in the Williamsburg silvermithing shop from 2014-2021. I now work at Jamestown.

[@pbjsilverstudio4882]

What a great process videos. What I found most fascinating is that if never seen anyone raise a vessel from that direction. Most interesting! Thank you for sharing it even if KZbin only saw fit to drop in my suggestion list. Haha!

[@Whateverfor101]

I graduated from high school in the late 60's. In 7th grade, we had 7 week rotations from voice, acting, art, metal shop, wood working and home economics. We didn't get all of them, just some, Skills that I still use today. Certainly they were the basics, and my father went further in giving me the tools to work with woods and metals, so I had my own workshop to restore furniture, and things and I had metal shop and not woodworking in class. I still do use the metal techniques for things that I do in jewelry and other fix it projects.

[@missartist123]

That is a gorgeous cup! Great job, yet again!

[@asheland_numismatics]

Very well done piece! (and video!) I have a tumbler cup very similar that was made by Garrards in London. It's so finely planished I thought it was spun at first, but indeed it was raised like yours. I really like these raised tumbler cups! Thanks for posting this terrific video! :-)

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you very kindly!

[@asheland_numismatics]

:-)

[@NoName-um4dt]

Enjoyed watching your video. Thanks for posting. Great craftsmanship.

[@WARDADDY72]

Simple elegance. Brilliant!!

[@MrRiquew]

Amazing craftsmanship ! Have you considered making sterling silver beer steins ? If so, I will be interested.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you. However, a beer stein would likely be far out of anyone’s price range :-/.

[@whothewho82]

This is INCREDIBLE

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you very much! That means a lot :-).

[@whothewho82]

@@ParkerBrown1979 are you still making things?

[@DEdens1525]

Beautiful.

[@darthsilversith667]

The Dwarves taught you well man!

[@katejackson7081]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing this!

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+kate jackson Thank you! I enjoyed making the video. I've now worked at the Colonial Williamsburg silversmith shop and I hope to do an updated video in the future showing more traditional techniques ;-).

[@breaknrocks]

Very nice. You should do a video explaining what you're doing in each step. Very nice!

[@ParkerBrown1979]

I thought about it while making this one, but I got lazy :-/. Maybe next time ;-).

[@stoundingresults]

Nice work. Fascinating.

[@ericfavre1922]

Dear Parker, may I kindly ask you the diameter and thickness of the silver sheet you start from? Thanks and Happy New Year 2023!!

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thanks Eric, I actually started with a smaller diameter disk of 12 ga. sterling which I hammered out into a roughly 18 ga. thickness. The diameter of your starting disk is the sum of the widest and tallest measures or, for a dome, twice the length from the dome’s highest point to the edge of the dome’s base.

[@ericfavre1922]

@@ParkerBrown1979 Thanks Parker for your quick answer. Here is my calculation based on Monticello's website: silver sheet diameter 5 5/128 inches; thickness 5/128 inch /weight 4,8 ounces. Do you think this is correct? Thanks for your help!!

[@DustyKorpse]

can you add captions explaining the process, especially the pot of water??? cheers :)

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Well, fully captioning the whole video would take a bit of time, but the crockpot contains a mild acid called "pickle". It's used to clean off the oxidation that forms on the silver during heating.

[@DustyKorpse]

cheers for that, new to metal working and that had me confused :)

[@TUSHARGARG9]

I think this is the best and cheapest way to get a properly working pickling machine. What size is it? and also would like to know on what heat setting do you keep the cooker? thanks

[@toddthecarver]

@@TUSHARGARG9 Pickle should be warm, but not hot. It works even when cold, but works better warm, but you don't want a bunch of pickle steam. Generally, use the lowest setting available.

[@paulwiggins183]

Check plus on this! Where do you imagine a smith of that era would have shortcut the process to... sell more readily. Or keep household together in hard times?

[@PEGuyMadison]

In college I took a class on metal working for art, I wanted to try my hand at this again but I have not been able to find textbooks on silversmithing at the public library. If you know of any reference materials that would be great.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Dr. Guy Madison www.amazon.com/dp/0801972329/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_oWJuCb39E93AV

[@rebeccaloyd1043]

UTD is my Alma mater! Awesome video! Do you have an online store front?

[@cameronmarks83]

Ok thank you very much for your reply ,

[@figg33]

this is very stimulating to watch.

[@MasterEled]

Great project and beautiful result! I have a couple of questions. What is the name of the device that you use to form the cup and what size is your silver circle when you start out?

[@Talmarn]

I don't know the exact make and model of what's used in the video but the tool is called a stake. My thoughts would be a T Stake of some kind. Google Silver Smiths T Stake. The stake and the hammer face will have a very high polish so when raising the cup the hammer marks are smooth and even.

[@ravnulvthordnspyd]

I use the same tumbler! 👑

[@Alberta1stPodcast]

😭 so beautiful the founding fathers are smiling down on you sir

[@Scotty432]

Loved it, great craftsmanship. What type of compasses do you use and how do get the point to stay centered on the silver?🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

[@ParkerBrown1979]

I’ve honestly had the best success with the cheap compasses they sell in the hardware section at Lowe’s with a sharpie marker taped to the end ;-). You have to dap a small dimple at the center of the disk before you begin. This gives an anchor point for your compass.

[@hunhrrrright5453]

How do you get the edges to behave? They want to get all wavy. I figure it is the result of a shrinking diameter. I can get out to the last inch without a problem, but that outer edge wants to fold upon itself. Your videos make me happy.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Take your time and don't push the metal too much too fast. I find that folding happens when I get in a rush ;-).

[@hotmalm]

Love your work, awesome cups truly great work . Quick question, what size of the disc and the thickness of the disc did you start with? Is there like a general rule to follow ?

[@ohev1]

Hunh Rrrright striking the edges thickens the metal and helps ptrevent cracks

[@ParkerBrown1979]

@Ionut: Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure (fine) silver and 7.5% copper.

[@MichaelOnMoney]

Parker Brown Great video! How much did the ingot weigh for the cup?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Maggie the Malinois The starting ingot was about 5 oz. (avoirdupois). Much of the material was lost when I trimmed it to the circular shape (not shown in the video). When working silver (or any precious metal), you try to minimize loss as much as possible. I recovered 1.7 oz. of material, so it worked out just right :-).

[@mikailahundov7107]

Entrancing job and view! Please, tell name of music at the end of video!! Thanks!!!

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you. As stated in the end credits, the song is "Greensleeves" by Christopher L. Stone & The History Channel

[@mikailahundov7107]

Thanks, thanks, thanks! =)

[@ohev1]

Mikail Ahundov I love power tools to polish when necessary. Now, it is possible in my estimation to planish properly and avoid a lot of polishing.

[@asadb1990]

Nice workmanship and no doubt stuff like this takes a while to finish. But what about the engraving work seen at the start? how does one go about getting that done.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+Asad the great You would need to talk to an engraver. Silversmithing and engraving are closely linked, but separate trades. Hand engraving, like silversmithing, requires years of training to do properly. Unfortunately, I'm not a trained engraver, so I was not able to do that on this piece.

[@asadb1990]

Parker Brown Oh I see, never the less, even making a cup like this takes real skill. Was really impressed at the workmanship of the finished product.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+Asad the great Thanks very much!

[@ericfavre1922]

Thanks Parker for your quick answer. Here is my calculation based on Monticello's website: silver sheet diameter 5 5/128 inches; thickness 5/128 inch /weight 4,8 ounces. Do you think this is correct? Thanks for your help!!

[@-Secret]

Do you take requests? If so are you able to make tea cups? If the answer is yes for both how much would you range it? I'd love to place an order. I have been looking everywhere for silver tea cups but it's as if they do not sell them anymore. Or they don't have the style of cup I'm looking for. What's the price range for things like this? I'd only want four and would be willing to pay. I even have the style idea for the cups I'd like. Just simply asking. He did a gorgeous job on those cups.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Silver teacups aren’t usually a good idea given that silver will transfer the heat of the tea to the exterior and burn the drinker ;-).

[@-Secret]

@@ParkerBrown1979 oh so that's why they aren't being sold??? Thank you. I don't know why that never came to mind.

[@fredmac1000]

I was hoping to see how you do the gold washing of inside!😔🙏

[@ParkerBrown1979]

They were likely made from gold amalgam using mercury gilding. It's a process that I don't have the proper safety equipment for.

[@ohev1]

You started off hammering on the metal and I am not sure why. You checked the gauge of the metal afterwards. You annealed after you hammered it flat. That I understand. Why the initial hammering flat process?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

I was hammering the sheet out from a thicker piece of metal. This is how sheet was produced when a rolling mill was unavailable.

[@hotmalm]

Love your work, awesome cups truly great work . if you got the time just a quick question. What size of the disc and the thickness of the disc did you start with? Is there like a general rule to follow ?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Fredrik Malm, I actually started with a smaller diameter disk of 12 ga. sterling which I hammered out into a roughly 18 ga. thickness. The diameter of your starting disk is the sum of the widest and tallest measures or, for a dome, twice the length from the dome’s highest point to the edge of the dome’s base.

[@mdwoods100]

That is SO cool! Thanks

[@damilla1958]

Fascinating! At the beginning of the video, the sample tumblers seemed to have a lining. What is that?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+damilla1958 The interior has likely been guilded with gold.

[@cameronmarks83]

Nice video ,,wondering what gauge is the sheet when you start ?please and thank you

[@ParkerBrown1979]

The starting sheet was 12 ga., but I hammered it out to approximately 18 ga. with the material being slightly thicker towards the center and the top edge. Rarely do you find historical work being of uniform thickness.

[@evanb1470]

May be a dumb question, but how often do you hit your thumb doing the pounding?

[@davidgibbings6085]

What a thing of beauty 👍👍👍👍

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Thank you :-).

[@slister93]

how would i make a metal goblet/chalice?

[@demariejones3438]

Question please? Wouldn’t it be easier to cast this instead of hammering it out? As well as take less time to make it?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

DeMarie Jones, it’s a common misconception that casting silver is faster and easier than forging. In reality, silver is an exothermic metal that cools too rapidly to flow into the narrow space of the vessel’s wall. Plus, the time needed to create the model of the piece, pour investment, let it dry and cure, takes in excess of 30 hours (I’ve done it before). What you get after all that work (if the silver actually casts) is something that’s not nearly as strong and still requires a massive amount of filing, stoning and polishing before it looks anything like the hammered piece.

[@demariejones3438]

Parker Brown thank you for explaining! You do some very amazing work.. I think a friend of mine has a christening cup that looks similar to this design...

[@檎林-j9z]

Really nice video thanks!

[@stephenreed738]

Beautiful!

[@Ascketism]

How much silver was used? Also could one work his way up to produce such a cup from say 1oz silver coin or maybe 5oz ? I'm curious because I just might do one myself. It's hard to find affordable silver mugs/cups/goblets around here.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+Ascketism As stated at the end of the video, the finished weight of the cup was 3.3 ozt. Yes, it is possible to melt silver coins into an ingot, work it into a sheet and then raise it into a cup. However, be aware that most silver coins are worth much more as a collector's item than for the silver content. If you are serious about making a silver vessel, understand that it takes YEARS of training to competently produce an item. The reason why it's hard to find an affordable silver item is because of the hours of work required to produce it properly. For example, this cup took me 25 hours and 3.3 ozt of silver. Working MINIMUM WAGE, the cost of labor is $181.25. The cost of the silver is $47.85. So, without charging any overhead to cover the cost of tools, electricity, fuel...etc., this cup is worth over $229.10. Realistically, I would charge MUCH more for something like this.

[@hokepoke3540]

Great job and video, you make it look easy, I for one know it is not. I have made several in copper but haven't had enough nerve to do silver. Think it is about time to try.

[@braydenlangham5154]

What gauge metal would you recommend?

[@hokepoke3540]

@@braydenlangham5154 I have been using anything from 12 gauge down to 26 gauge. I personally like the thicker metals, have to anneal more often but I like the thicker because it is not so fragile.

[@dakotablackstone4486]

What’s in the crockpot?

[@TheSavageBerzerker_Offical]

How much do you charge for one of those great master peices?

[@bensmith4563]

Based on looking at how much flatware is it's at least $500

[@ParkerBrown1979]

We charge approximately $800 in our shop for a piece like this. I has very poor wi-fi, but it IS gluten free.

[@joe3008]

The metal seems rather thin for a tumbler (I cant image the center of gravity is very low). why do you erase all of your hard work during finishing? please respond i cant sleep.

[@silasmarner7586]

Can you explain why you quench after annealing? Are you wanting it harder (quenching) after you just annealed (heating w/torch)? I'm a bit confused (obviously!)

[@felipetascon9142]

silver is nonferrous and therefore doesn't harden when quenched

[@AngelaStitches]

Hello ! what kind of hammer did you use for raising? was it a urethane hammer i see theres no harsh marks when you raised . it looks amazing

[@ParkerBrown1979]

+happycoffee www.ottofrei.com/Store/Rawhide-Deadblow-Mallets-Nylon-Forming-Hammers-Outer-Space-Hammers/Deadblow-Cross-Peen-Delrin-Hammer-For-Raising.html I use these in my modern shop, but historically you would have used steel raising hammers. I've also used a rawhide hammer and even a rolled paper hammer!

[@AngelaStitches]

+Parker Brown thank you !!

[@felixarbable]

What thickness sheet did you start with

[@ParkerBrown1979]

As I seem to recall (bear in mind this was 10 years ago) I started with 18 ga. sterling silver.

[@greenboy1916]

What gauge of metal did you start with and what are the subsequent gauges?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

The initial disk actually started out as a ¼” thick ingot hammered out into a round sheet. At the point where you first see it in the video, it’s roughly at 13 ga., but not exactly. The finished piece was about 16 ga. at the top and base and about 18 ga. in the center. Historically raised pieces are rarely if ever a standardized gauge thickness.

[@Revelation13-8]

What would the price of a cup like this be ?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

With present cost of materials ($21.67 per ounce as of March 14, 2023) a cup like this would come to approximately $950.00

[@Revelation13-8]

@@ParkerBrown1979 more then expected , i see they sell whole water bottles 925 for 500 and even down to 250

[@ParkerBrown1979]

@@Revelation13-8 They might have more affordable rates for Jefferson Cups. I do hope you find what you are looking for :-).

[@leonaer]

How many hours did it took?

[@JohnJohnson-bg2oo]

Probably a great fisherman also! Patience is needed when dealing with a precious metal!!

[@ankualex]

that is pure silver or something else like 925, etc.?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

They are sterling silver (.925).

[@ankualex]

silver combined with what? what is the other metal that take the .075 part?

[@Aleph-Noll]

Alexandru Ionut copper

[@alereatoalereato6936]

Isn't there a methid called spinning that does this much quicker ???

[@madcowrebel4216]

Where did you go, man?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Most of the video content I'm currently involved in is on the Historic Trades and Skills Facebook page. Feel free to join so you can see more of what I've been up to these last two years!

[@madcowrebel4216]

Parker Brown Ok will check it out, just thought you disappeared or something.

[@philipambrose2094]

What gauge sheet did you start with?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

The initial ingot was 1/4" thick, but hammering brought it down to between 18 ga. and 16 ga.

[@Ra1276]

Nice

[@rumpelstiltskin9768]

cool!

[@AffordBindEquipment]

wouldn't metal spinning have the same effect?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

AffordBindEquipment, yes except metal spinning technology wasn’t commonly used by American silversmiths at the time. However, neither were pressured gas torches and electric polishing wheels ;-).

[@pooyae82]

How much are you selling this for? Does it make economic sense?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

I currently do not sell these as I work for Colonial Williamsburg and all sales of my silver work is done through the Golden Ball at Colonial Williamsburg. www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/do/shop/historic-shops/golden-ball/

[@ElGatoLoco698]

You spent all that time and effort hammering and shaping the cup by hand only to use a buffer to polish it? hmm

[@ParkerBrown1979]

ElGatoLoco698 Yes. That’s how you polish metals.

[@ElGatoLoco698]

I thought you were trying to re-create the process like in Jefferson's time so I found it comical that you used a power tool to polish but not to hammer or shape the cup.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

1) power hammers don’t work very well with silver 2) British 18th century silversmiths sent work out to professional polishers using water powered mill polishers 3) Colonial American silversmiths would have used the same compounds used in modern electric polishers, just would have been applied on a cloth by hand 4) the REAL inaccuracies in my process I the use of pressurized gas heat rather than a charcoal forge and bellows ;-).

[@СрПелоЗекэт]

ручная работа, молодец!

[@randymarsh9935]

If I tried that, I would lose a fingertip.

[@ohev1]

How much would you charge for a tumbler?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

The tumblers that we produce at the Colonial Williamsburg silversmith shop (where I work) is in the neighborhood of $800.

[@ohev1]

Parker Brown $800? Wow! I appreciate the amount of time you put in your work. You are somewhat of perfectionist 👍. I have a few questions. Do you mind answering them?

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Joel Abramowitz Shoot :-).

[@ohev1]

Ok. 1. I noticed you trimmed the edge. Was that necessary? I agree that a fairly even edge is needed. Later on there is a lot of filing and sanding that evens things out. 2. Along the way do you strike the edge to thicken and compress the edge? 3. Why do you divide in quarters with your marks? One line down the side is usually all that is needed to keep your place to reverse directions. 4. What kind of hammers are you using other than metal? Wow. I like how you are moving the metal not using a metal hammer. You probably have to use more force though. Thx. Joel

[@ParkerBrown1979]

@@ohev1 1. Trimming the edge is something I've learned how to minimize. This helps along with...2. striking the edge to thicken it (caulking). 3. I like to super divide my work into quarters because I'm somewhat OCD and do weird things ;-). 4. I prefer raising with weighted mallets made of wood, paper, rawhide and delrin. Delrin mallets are wonderful and you can easily make them yourself if you have access to a woodturning lathe....which I do.

[@nelsonx5326]

Old school.

[@WaseemAkram-pg2hj]

Good i

[@demariejones3438]

I would have smashed my hand so many times already... I’m so not good at hammering things...

[@bradleybellwether3063]

Ah yes, off for a soak in ye olde crock pot. Lol

Too much hard work dude. There has to be a better way.

[@ParkerBrown1979]

These are older techniques and, yes, there are faster manufacturing methods used by modern production shops.

[@530smily1]

That's not that good, it's a lil bit cool

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Do you have any working experience making silverware?

[@Armando7654]

Not like in the thumbnail therefore thumbs-down

[@jamesfiles2211]

Адманул, чашечки на заставке жёлтые внутри.😭

[@ParkerBrown1979]

Оригиналы имели золотую пластину внутри.