Workshop Review. Begin From Dots, a Workshop on Granulation with Tan-Chi Chao

From April 8th to 12th, 2019, a workshop on granulation with famous metalsmith artist, Tan-Chi Chao, was held at the Jewelry and Metals Studio of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts in Shanghai University.

The workshop started with a presentation of the history of granulation beginning in the Sumer and Etruscan cultures to modern development of the craft of granulation, which combines metal beans using liquid phase diffusion bonding. Tan-Chi Chao also spoke about experiments in granulation on non-planar design.  




Tan-Chi Chao then demonstrated the procedures and techniques of granulation step-by-step, starting with preparing materials and tools, making and proceeding silver beans, making plaster models, electroplating beans and objects, placing beans in a pattern, fusing and dying.




Through experimentation, students used the skills and insights of granulation to design and make their own pieces of jewelry.




At the end of the workshop, students displayed their work and shared what they learned over the last five days. The workshop was a good start for the students to experience the wonder of granulation and apply the technique of granulation in contemporary jewelry design.




Some of the works made by students in the workshop：




About the teacher:
Tan-Chi Chao is the associate professor of the Department of Crafts and Design at the National Taiwan University of Arts, adjunct associate professor of the Department of Drama and Theatre in National Taiwan University, the director of Taiwan Jewelry Design & Metalsmithing Association and author of Metal·Techniques·Practices and Begin from Dots.