HOME DECORATIONS. 
Repousse Work. 
Although seemingly difficult, this work is so easy of 
execution, that with but little practice very satisfactory 
results can be obtained, and it is so fascinating and in¬ 
expensive that it is destined to become very popular, 
and the tiny punches and mallets will be as deftly 
handled by dainty fingers as embroidery needles and 
crochet hooks, for the delicate use of the tools is just 
what the work requires. 
well, for a screw-driver makes a very good tracer by 
filing it slightly on the edges to made it rough, and 
large nails, the ends of which can be filed in different 
patterns, make very good punches. The prettiest piece 
of work we have seen was done by a young lady who 
made her own tools as we have described. 
After selecting the design you wish to use, cut a piece 
of brass the desired size, and fasten it to a smooth pine 
board of about an inch in thickness, with small screws 
as near the edge as possible, or else by wooden buttons 
Tray, Plaque and Cover for Flower-jar in Repouss£ Work. 
The malleable metals used are brass, copper, zinc and 
silver, which come for the purpose in sheets, but we will 
only describe the manner of working brass, as that gives 
the best results with the least practice. The metal sheets 
are numbered according to their thickness; twenty-five 
is the best for general purposes, and they can be obtained 
at any place where artists’ materials are sold, and also 
at most hardware stores. Those of brass, retail at about 
thirty-five cents a pound, which is equal to one and one 
half square feet. The tools consist of a broad-headed 
hammer or mallet, a tracer and various styles of punches, 
some having the end round, others square, and others 
with dots and fine lines, and of any odd shape to make 
variety; they are called mats, and can be purchased for 
twenty cents apiece; but home-made ones answer as 
made from a piece of wood two inches long and one- 
half an inch thick, boring a hole in the center 
for a screw. These hold the metal firmly, and 
do not mar the edge. The design can be transferred to 
the brass by the use of tracing paper, if it cannot be 
done in free hand. Mythological figures are very ap¬ 
propriate as they give the work an ancient look, but 
with the first experiment very simple patterns should 
be used until you have become somewhat familiar with 
the details of the work. As soon as the design is trans¬ 
ferred to the sheet, the work can be commenced. 
First go all around the pattern with the tracer, holding 
it in the left hand firmly, and hammering it steadily 
with the right, giving as even blows as possible so 
that the lines will be regular: after having gone 
