By Dr. Erhard Brepohl, translated from German by Charles Lewton-Brain and edited by Tim McCreight. Since its first publication in East Germany in 1961, The Theory and Practice of Goldsmithing has become the foremost technical resource for jewelers, sculptors, and other small-scale metalworkers. Early chapters discuss materials, focusing on the noble metals (gold, silver, and platinum) and highly detailed coverage of jewelry alloys. The third chapter provides a comprehensive description of chemistry-related problems, while the fourth offers a tutorial in the physics of material usage that is highly informative and, at the same time, practical.

Later chapters explain soldering, eutectic bonding, and electroplating techniques. Other chapters, dealing with silversmithing, chain making, and findings are especially valuable to the jewelry artisan. Final chapters cover gems, stonesetting, and jewelry repair. Hundreds of detailed illustrations, photographs, and data-rich tables insure that this updated edition of this massive work will reaffirm its position among the foremost technical resources in the metalworking field. 536 pages, hardcover.