This is an advanced technique
that has been in use for thousands of years around the world
and was mastered by the Etruscans and Greeks, among others.
The process is believed to have come to Korea through ancient
trade with the people of the Shilla kindgom. This skill seems
to be one of the defining factors of whether a culture has
had a highly developed goldsmithing tradition.
Granulation involves fusing tiny granules of gold onto a surface,
using a thin coating of special flux rather than solder, that
will attach the granules permanently.
Seeded Locket
22 K gold, sterling silver, 2005, 1.5x1.5x.5"
Locket
Process
Granulation: Traditional
Granulation: Contemporary |