For one couple, the art of brassing is a hobby that others may not find to be easy but they highly stress out that the rewards are somewhat grand. Ask them nicely, and they may even tell you what brassing is. Pieces of paper bear images influenced by 13th to 17th Century England pieces including the flat metal figures seen in tombs and the images in stones in churches when the process of brassing is applied allowing for artwork that could be used for displays.
Considering this context, the process may seem easy but the couple says that it is not. An Air Force base became the couple's new home when they moved about a year ago after spending four years in England. Other than being able to obtain antique furniture and other things, the display resulting from this couples interest in collecting antiques also include antique dishes and utensils. Unheard of in the United States is the process of brassing but the couple became interested in it when they were in England for it was a popular activity there.
In order to honor their dead the upper class English during the 13th Century made use of engraved flat brass portraits that were placed on the floors of nearby churches or on the tombs. Image transfers are done with the help of a special gold colored wax bar that is used to rub the special black paper that is placed over the brasses.
Images surface following the ridges in the brass after the wax rubs off on the paper. The couple brought back more than 200 of the paper images and one duplicate brass from the original monument. From their brass collection the one they place much value on is that of Sir John d' Abernon who died in battle in 1277. Accommodating people who want to take rubbings off of this popular and earliest known brass requires making an appointment a couple of months earlier.
Considering making duplicates of the brasses the Vicars in charge of the brasses saw to it that no one other those who have experience were permitted to do so. Duplicates of brass were sold for $2,000 each in New York and this caused outrage for the English who are now stricter when it comes to making these duplicates requiring those interested in doing so to first sign a waiver that says that they will not be involved in the selling of these duplicates.
There has been a large number initially put down from 1250 to 1650 but now there are only 8,000 monuments that remain. Aside from being able to trace the development of armor and clothing historians have also been able to trace the development of lifestyle through these brasses as they unlocked clues from the monuments. Aside from finding out that a lion pictured at the feet of a knight means that he died in battle, they were also able to determine that a hound at someone's feet meant that he liked to hunt with dogs.
Art is catching up in the US and so there are only a few brasses that exist in the country. Such things as manhole covers, etchings on tombstones, and other decorative engravings can be duplicated by rubbing. This is a hobby you could enjoy even if the couple needed four hours to accomplish the rubbing of Sir d' Abernon. Several schools and art shows have asked the couple to display their rubbings there.
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To find portrait from photo artist information see this resource. When you would like to get more information on christmas baby portraits ideas check out this site.
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