Metalwork and Enamelling

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for the price.
Review: I have owned this book for 15 years and I think it is an excellent reference book for jewellers and metal smiths. It covers all types of metal work including gold and silversmithing, jewellery, stone setting and enamelling using traditional techniques. Written by Herbert Maryon O.B.E., who was one of London's best gold and silversmiths.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Instructional Book
Review: I'm writing this review because I believe this book deserves another good review. My personal interest is working all sorts of metals. I have searched these sorts of sites extensively looking for books that give a clear explanation of the skills required to do this sort of work and this book by Herbert Maryon is one of the best.
In the first 20 chapters, at 166 pages, Maryon concentrates on metalworking. The subjects include Soldering, Setting of stones, Filigree work, Raising and Shaping, Spinning, Repoussé work, Twisted Wires, Metal Inlaying and Overlaying to name just a few.
I found the photos of twisted wires particularly good and have not found this sort of information in other books to date. The last chapter in this section on Japanese Alloys and Stratified Fabrics was excellent also as I have not encountered this information either.
Chapters 21-27, at 31 pages, deal with Enamelling and once again we have good descriptions on the different topics of Cloisonné enamels, Plique-à-jour enamels, Encrusted enamels and Painted enamels to name a few.
His next major section is Metal Casting at 33 pages, Chapters 28-31, and we again get good descriptions and techniques. Following on from this we have an assortment of chapters dealing with Construction, Design, The Making of Tools and Polishing and Colouring.
Maryon rounds the book out with some tables and conversion charts dealing with areas, gauges, measurments, weights and temperatures.
Overall I believe Maryon has done a very good job of explaining the skills and techniques required to do metalwork and enamelling at this level.
One criticism that could be leveled at this book is that compared to other books on the same subject there are possibly too few photos and drawings which could have given an added dimension to the otherwise clear descriptions.
When learing like myself from scratch it pays to draw on multiple sources. Other books I have consulted are; "A Silversmith's Manual" by Bernard Cuzner; "Silversmithing" by Finegold and Seitz; "Metal Techniques for Craftsmen" by Oppi Untracht. These books including Maryon's are the best out there and are all worth purchasing. Reasoning being that they all have invaluable infomation which often overlaps but have tips and tricks unique to each book. Which are invaluable to becoming proficient in this art.
The book therefore gets 4.5 stars from me as it gives good advice which is most and has been helpful.
Finally just to say another great book by Dover.

Rating:
Summary: Keeping the rest of them honest.
Review: The first two reviews are dead on target. However,there is another aspect to Marion's book. It gives a fine perspective for judging newer texts and would-be teachers. During a novice's jewelry class, students were offered a chance to take an advanced course, given by one of the instructor's friends. It would show us a "special method" of soldering fine gold grain work. An excellent method is plainly laid out on pages ten and eleven of Metalwork & Enamelling. These two pages saved me over four hundred dollars; a nice return on the book's price.