464 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
be filed a little, and then beaten flat 
with the hammer. If this closes the 
hole too much, it can be enlarged by 
the round file. It is most important 
that the rivet should fit snugly in the 
hole, not too tight and not too loose. 
The illustrations show hexagon 
lamp-shades and jardiniéres, as well as 
circular ones. These are made on the 
same principle as the round ones. The 
pattern illustrations show the construc- 
tion of a circular shade and one with 
four sides. The panels are shaped on 
the angle of hardwood block with the 
wooden mallet. The block is placed in the vise in such a posi- 
tion that the shade can be carefully shaped by bending on 
a or 
Shade and screen 
Pattern for four-sided lamp shade 
the angle of the block. 
enabling the worker to beat 
the metal without interfer- 
ing with the pin-holes. By 
following these instructions 
practically all the articles 
illustrated can be made. 
The hall lantern is made in 
the same way, but it is ad- 
visable to make one first in 
thin pasteboard, so as to 
practise in a cheap material 
before making the attempt 
in metal. These simple ar- 
ticles are not all joined by 
rivets, a strip of metal is 
left sticking out, and a cor- 
responding hole is then made for it. 
is inserted it can readily be bent over to hold the pieces 
together. 
Perforated metal 
is so quickly done 
that the craftsman 
becomes fascinated 
with the joy of cre- 
ating and is encour- 
aged to twist and 
bend the metal into 
all kinds of interest- 
ing shapes. Variety 
can be given by the 
coloring and finish 
of the metal. Brass 
can be bright, cop- 
per dull or bur- 
nished, or both ‘can 
be treated with an 
It is best to hammer the metal into 
the desired shape before the background is perforated, thus 
AMEN AIMEE na ffianttaa 
Circular lamp and candle shades 
After the piece 
forms. 
Lamp shades, jardiniére, box and hall lantern 
December, 1909 
acid which turns them beautiful shades 
of green. ‘Tin being very inexpensive 
the beginner can begin on that metal 
and can afterwards paint the finished 
article black. 
There are many ways of polishing 
brass, but one of the best means is to 
take rotten stone or tripoli and tur- 
pentine and rub the surface with that, 
finally polishing with chamois. Another 
way to produce a bright finish is to 
paint the surface with oxalic acid. 
Copper or brass may be turned green 
by painting with repeated applications 
of alternate washings of diluted acetic acid and exposure to 
the fumes of ammonia or by immersing the metal in a solu- 
Pattern for circular lamp shade 
tion of one part perchlorid of iron and two parts of water. 
Nitrate of copper is often used when the article is small 
enough to be boiled in a 
strong solution of it. 
Copper can also be sub- 
jected to heat which makes 
it beautiful in color. 
Although the craft of 
hammering and _ piercing 
metal is a comparatively 
easy one, and certainly an 
art that can be carried out 
with most inexpensive ma- 
terials and in an inexpen- 
sive way, it should not be 
forgotten that a good deal 
of care is necessary to se- 
cure good results. This is 
true of all kinds of craft work, and is as true here as in other 
But the technical processes are here very easy, and 
very little persever- 
ance is needed to 
secure satisfactory 
results. The range 
of articles that may 
be made or deco- 
rated is, also, very 
large, and includes 
a host of service- 
able and ornamental 
articles that any 
one would be glad 
to have or offer 
as gifts to one’s 
friends. The work is 
not irksome and is a 
most agreeable form 
of home handicraft. 
