Silver 'Jewelly'

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 5 Dec 2017 23:27
Our Stop at a Silversmiths
 
 
 
IMG_0462
 
We pulled up beside the dock of a silversmith, the sign read jewelly, novel.......
 
 
IMG_0465  IMG_0466  IMG_0469
 
A keen young lady scooped us from the dock and had us on stools, listening attentively, before we could blink. She showed us an ore producing rock and a grinder. The chemical solution used to separate out the silver and the little bits they gather from sieving the solution.
 
 
IMG_0470
 
To her side a chap had been using the bellows to raise the heat below a tiny little pot, happy with the fluid-state, he poured it into a stone mould.
 
 
IMG_0472
 
He dunked the silver ingot in cold water and handed it to our guide.
 
 
IMG_0475  IMG_0477
 
The machine and measuring gauge used in silver wire making.
 
 
IMG_0476  IMG_0478
 
Our guide showed us silver fish “designed by my grandfather and unique to this works, this is a family business”, the segmented fish waggle – up and down for the boys, side to side for the girls. Funnily enough, we had seen the very fish on several of the market stalls such a short time ago........
 
 
IMG_0480  IMG_0479  IMG_0481
 
A cousin was making bracelets. Concertina design and a traditional classic.
 
 
IMG_0483  IMG_0482
 
Another cousin was making baskets for earrings and we were shown a gong necklace.
 
 
IMG_0488 (2)  IMG_0485
 
Another cousin was just finishing putting a junk link on a tiny fish, cute but not robust enough for me to wear.
 
 
IMG_0484
 
Our guide showed us how to rub metal on a stone, silver for silver, a golden colour for plate and a tiny set of basket earrings happen to be in shot........
 
 
IMG_0486  IMG_0487
 
A final cousin was working with gems.
 
 
IMG_0489
 
Politely we looked around the shop and returned to our boat having thanked our guide.
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL ANOTHER INTERESTING LITTLE STOP
                     OLD FASHIONED PROCESSES STILL WORK PERFECTLY