The commission task was to replicate the clasp below, having the new one echo the feeling of the existing one. The original was nickel silver and nickel plated copper. For the new one I used solid nickel silver for all the parts. I did not replicate the stamped engraving. The style of hinge mechanism on this was a little unusual and somewhat more complex to construct.
Shown here are some step by step photos of the process with only a few words describing the jist of each step, as the photos are fairly self explanatory.
Rubbings of all of the parts of the clasp were made in order to get as accurate a pattern to work from as possible.
The hasp and clasp plate were sawn out with a jewelers saw and filed and the main knuckle for the hinge was rolled at the bottom of the hasp. Then the interior design was sawed out.
The rest of the steps follow below.
(6)
Sawing hinge coverplate in half.
(10)
Back view of original clasp and replica clasp, patinaed.
