Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-07
THE BRASS CRAZE.
Some Fashionable Ladies' Who Have |
Learned to Hammer PLAQUES In !
Earnest.

From the Philadelphia Times
number OF ladies who were studying the
latest fashionable handcraft of brass beating at
one of the private art schools have made new
and practical departure by giving up the the
cries of books and boOk-learned teachers and
placing themselves as apprentices under regu-
lar brass-beater In an establishment where it is
carried on as business. They had been get
ting their hammers and tracing tools
for long time from Anthony NORM, who
has been tracing and modelling brass
is now at III south 9Th street In visiting the
place getting tools and brass and blocks some of
the ladies were struck with the thorough and
practical way things were done and very soon
found out that the school was a great deal of
1t, child's play, and that If they wanted to make
beautiful and lasting work they would have to
take up the methods OF the factory Accord
lngly, for nearly year the herculean and sar-
donic brass-beater has had under his care
class comprising some of the best known ladies
OF the city and has so Instructed them In the
way of using and holding their tools. and in the
proper kind Of stroke to make upon the steel
dies. that some Of them, who have had a good
deal OF practice, are enabled to make articles in
repousse brass of which they are Justly proud
Mrs. Edward Shipper Ia one of those who
have become very proficient. and one or two
things she has done in brass are considered as
fine as anything ever seen from an amateur
hand. Miss Carrie B. Smith, a sster-in-law of
the late John Edgar Thomson, Is also a clever
artisan and has turned out, among other things
sterling silver teapot beaten up from the in
side In real repOusse and deliberately chased
Miss Lowber has beaten and chased beautiful
plate, bearing the family coat OF arms She is
now making a set OF bellows plates ornamented
with oak leaves and acorns. Some striking
work has been done by Mrs. Wendell P. Bow
man, one OF her productions being a PLAGUE
with the head Of Minerva. Miss L. b. Moss has
nearly finished two solid OffertOry plates beau
tifully chased and each Ornamented with a
Greek rayed cross They are to be presented to
church, The same young lady has chased some
family crests. Miss Homer is making a pacoue
with shield and crest and the motto ''Salus in
Eide" Miss Valentine has also done some ele-
CANT escutcheons. Miss Davis is also skillful
chaser. Miss Cooley, of San Francisco who has
been visiting Philadelphia. is most enthusiastic
student and has sent home several specimens of
her handiwOrk. One was a cOat-of-arms in a
wreath Of shamrock, displaying the motto "Sans
Dieu Rien." Mrs. d. NJ. Peck, of Wilamsport,
has also made some very beautiful work
Inc method is very simple and primitive. A
sheet or plate of brass is fastened on u block of
wood The design is drawn upon it and the
outline is hammered by die, which has several
dots In row. Then there is die that makes
the groundwork have frosted, mottled ap-
OF Impressions Everything depends upon the
skill Of the hands that hold the tools Out Of q
piece OF brass costing few dollars there can be
made something that could not be purchased tor
less than S25 or $50 Card-receivers are among
the things most made, and all sorts OF curious
things are made for wedding presents, the ar
tices deriving special value from being made
oy the gtyer's hand. The work develops the
muscles and is one Of the best means OF edu-
eating the hands in the mechanical arts. Ladies'
have become 30 fond Of the work that they Law
IN supplies Of brass and amuse themselves with
II while away at the seaside and other resorts
Mr.. NORM says 1t Is possible for any girl with a
little practice. to earn In this way two or three
times as much as she would earn standing In q
store.