A bangle bracelet can be easily made of hammered work, from a narrow strip of sheet-silver, which can be obtained from any silversmith at a small cost. The design is to be traced on the silver in the same manner as upon the sheet-brass, and great care must be taken in the working out of each little detail. When the work is finished, it should be sent to a jeweler to be made up and polished. This is of course an expensive, as well as a very nice piece of work, and should not be tried until considerable skill in the manipulation of sheet-metal has been acquired, and success seems in a large degree certain.
Many ladies are fine workers in repoussé, and it cannot fail to be a source of satisfaction to every one interested in the art to know, that each year its merits are becoming more fully known and appreciated by that great class of people, whose purchases govern the prices of all artistic things. Now, boys, I have simply touched upon this very interesting subject of repoussé, and given you a few directions, culled from my own experience. If, however, I have succeeded in stimulating in you a desire to pursue this subject further, you will find many excellent helps, in the form of books or pamphlets, in any of our large stores devoted to artists’ materials and supplies.
A fine frame for any kind of plaque, whether repoussé, porcelain, leather work, or papier-maché, can be easily made from a square piece of wood, about six inches wider than the subject to be framed; this can be beveled at the edges, or left as when sawed. In the center, with a strong pair of carpenter’s dividers describe a circle, whose diameter shall be half an inch shorter than that of the plaque. Bevel the front edge of this opening, then covering the whole front surface of this wood with thin glue, lay it, face downward upon the piece of plush or velvet, intended to cover it; the material lying flat and smooth, with its raised surface downward, upon an uncovered table. Cut the center of the cloth away, allowing enough on the edge to draw over the opening of the frame; slash this to within a short distance of the wood, that it may lay evenly when finished; now glue this firmly down upon the back, and bring over the outside edges and fix them in the same way. When this is dry, fasten in your plaque with brads driven into the back of the frame, and extending over the edge of the opening at its back. Finally, when certain all is securely fastened, wet a piece of brown paper, cut to exactly cover the entire back of plaque and frame both, cover it with paste and press it in place. It is necessary to wet the paper first, to prevent its wrinkling or forming great bubbles when dry. When the paper is dampened, a bit of paste around the edge is all that is necessary to hold it in place.