12 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



January, 19 lo 



the two under the apphcation of 

 the heat become alloyed together. 

 It is also found that the inlaying 

 metal in the case of zinc is very 

 much harder than the brass or cop- 

 per into which it is inlaid. 



One very notable feature of the 

 process, which is of considerable 

 importance, is that a wide variety 

 of colors and alloys can be ob- 

 tained in the one operation of bak- 

 ing. For instance, a copper tray 

 is to be inlaid with zinc, and at the 

 same time it is desired to convert 

 certain portions of the copper into 

 brass. This is accomplished by 

 varying the thickness of the stop- 

 ping-off composition, and by bak- 

 ing at a somewhat higher tempera- 

 ture than would otherwise be em- 

 ployed. The result is that certain 

 portions become converted into 

 golden-colored brass, while the 



other portions remain unalloyed copper. The inlay work 

 is carried out so delicately and evenly, that in hammered 

 metal objects the hammer marks in the original article will 



2 — Copper tray inlaid wiih zinc and brass 



graded. It must not be thought 

 that the elfects secured are only 

 obtainable by the use of zinc 

 and copper. Such is not the case, 

 since the more subtle shadings and 

 hues between tin, aluminum, 

 nickel, cobalt, and other mctuls can 

 be as easily produced. In the 

 photographs accompanying this 

 article the contrasts of zinc and 

 copper only are shown, for the 

 simple reason that the colors pos- 

 sible by using other metals do not 

 produce a sufficiently striking ef- 

 fect in a photograph. 



Nor is the process merely con- 

 lined to the embellishment of Hat 

 surfaces. It is as readily applic- 

 able to raised surfaces and objects 

 of all shapes and sizes, such as tea- 

 pots, coal vases, and other similar 

 articles. It can also be adapted to 

 the finest filigree as easily as to 

 bold work, as is required in panels or heraldry. An im- 

 portant development has been in connection with its appli- 

 cation to book covers, the appearance of such damascened 



3 — Iron box inlaid with zinc and enamel 



4 — Copper tea pot inlaid with zinc and brass 5- 



Copperand brass vessel 

 inlaid with zinc 



show through the inlay as if the decorative metal had been 

 hammered in. If desired, the metal foundation can possess 

 the stippled hammered effect while the inlay has a smooth 

 surface, thus giving a striking and 

 pleasing contrast. Some of the 

 effects obtained are very beautiful 

 in character. The zinc inlay can 

 be made so that it is surrounded 

 by a fine line of brass, or be both 

 inlaid and onlaid, in which event 

 the latter ornamentation can be 

 raised as much as one-sixteenth of 

 an inch above the surface of the 

 copper. Again, iron can be inlaid 

 with both zinc and enamel, which 

 yields an attractive effect, or a va- 

 riety of hues produced by burning 

 the whole of the copper surface 

 with zinc and then etching the pat- 

 tern down to the different alloys 

 formed intermediate between zinc 

 and brass. By this arrangement 

 the variety of tones secured is 

 both extensive and beautifully 6— Hammered copper 



metal-bound volumes being appreciably enhanced. 



One distinct charm about this new process, and one that, 



moreover, is unique, is the absence of the sharp line of de- 



markatlon as is characteristic of 

 damascening. Instead there is a 

 soft transition from the inlay to 

 the surrounding foundation metal. 

 That is to say, where zinc is inlaid 

 into copper, the inserted metal is 

 surrounded by a narrow band or 

 halo of golden-colored alloy. It is 

 obvious, therefore, that very beau- 

 tiful toned colored effects of great 

 subtlety can be produced, ranging 

 from silver white zinc to yellow 

 brasses and bronzes of innumer- 

 able shades, graduating to red 

 copper and gradations of yellow 

 and golden browns. 



The use of the new process of 

 damascening metals is a very 

 splendid art, and its revival will, it is 

 hoped, be met with appreciation of 



dish inlaid with zinc all lovers of the antique. 



