A hammer does more than leave a mark.
Work hardening happens when metal becomes harder and more resistant to further shaping through actions such as hammering, bending, or rolling.
The elongated links pictured here are from my own jewelry work. Hammering helped shape and texture them while also hardening the metal.
That change can be useful when a finished piece needs to hold its shape. During construction though, continued working can leave metal less able to bend without cracking. A maker may pause to anneal it, restoring softness before continuing.
Curator’s Note: Work hardening and annealing often take turns at the bench – one hardens the metal through shaping and the other restores its ability to be shaped.
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