Metal can only take so much shaping before it needs a reset.
Hammering, bending and rolling can make jewelry metals harder and less willing to move – a change called work hardening. Annealing restores softness and makes further shaping possible.
For metals such as copper and silver, this involves controlled heating followed by cooling suited to the particular metal or alloy. The metal stays solid throughout the process.
A maker may return to annealing several times while creating a piece, alternating between shaping the metal and restoring its ability to bend.
Curator’s Note: Malleable describes a metal’s ability to take a new shape. Annealing helps restore that ability after working has hardened it.
Leave a Reply