Toreutics

Toreutics is the art of working metal, [Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art Volume II (Aesthetics) by G. W. F. Hegel and T. M. Knox (1998) p.161] [How to Understand Sculpture by Margaret Thomas, Kessinger Publishing, 2005, p.25] by hammering gold or silver (or other materials), engraving, embossing and chasing to form minute detailed reliefs or small engraved patterns. [Hutchinson Encyclopaedia. Helicon Publishing LTD 2007] Toreutics can include metal-engraving - forward-pressure linear metal removal with a burin. [Jewelry Concepts & Technology by Oppi Untracht (1982) p.283]

Archeological background

Toreutics claims great antiquity. [How to Understand Sculpture by Margaret Thomas, Kessinger Publishing, 2005, p.25-6] It was practised in the 'Bronze Age' and was well established centuries before the shaft graves. [Social Transformations in Archaeology: Global and Local Perspectives (Material Cultures) by Kri Kristiansen (1998) p.135] Toreutics flourished to an unusual degree among the peoples of Asia Minor, Assyria, Babylon, and passed from thence to ancient Persia. [The Cambridge History of Iran by I. Gershevitch (1985) p.154] One spectacular example of the direct influence of Persia in toreutics is believed to be the Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós found in Transylvania in 1799, and considered to be work of Old Bulgarian [A Short History of Modern Bulgaria by R.J. Crampton, Cambridge University Press, 1987] gold smiths. It consists of 23 vessels and has been attributed to Attila's Huns, [The Empire of the Steppes, a History of Central Asia by Rene Grousset (transl. by Naomi Walford), Rutgers University Press, 2005, p.25] the Avars [Worriors of the Steppe by Erik Hildinger, De Capo Press, 1997, pp. 57-92] and Pechenegs. The majority of scholars however, consider it Bulgarian (Proto-Bulgarians, [Bulgaria - Land of Ancient Civilizations by Dimiter Dimitrov, Foreign Language Press, Sofia 1961, p.33] Bulgars), because of its runic inscriptions. [Bulgarian's Treasures from the Past by Ivan Venedikov, Sava Boyadjiev and Dimiter Kartalev, Foreign Languages Press, Sofia 1965, pp. 345-55.]

Etymology

Toreutics comes from Greek -"toreutikos" [Sculpture: Some Observations on Shape and Form from Pygmalion's Creative Dream by Johann Gottfried Herder and Jason Gaiger (2002)] : of metal work; from "toreutos": worked in relief; from "toreuein" [Conspiracy Of Catiline And The Jurgurthine War by Sallust (2004/6) p.62/72] ; to work in relief; from "toreus": a boring tool; see" terə-" in Indo-European roots. The art of working metal or other materials by the use of embossing and chasing to form minute detailed reliefs. The origin of 'toreutics' goes back to 1830–40; < Gk "toreutikós", equiv. to "toreú(ein)" to bore, chase, emboss (v. deriv. of toreús graving tool) -tikos.

Applications

* Persian-Sassanid [Athens and Persia in the Fifth Century BC: A Study in Cultural Receptivity by Margaret C. Miller (2004) p.59] style (Fig.1), Christian toreutics [The history of the origins of Christianity: Volume 3 by Ernest Renan (2007) p.95] (Fig.2, 3), Folk craftsmanship (Fig. 4), Bulgaria
* Beaten copper [Antique Brass & Copper Identification & Value Guide by Mary Frank Gaston (1991) p.19] (Tibet), Fig. 4, 5, 6
* Tsuba gold toreutics (1860) Mito school.

ee also

* Aesthetics
* History of decorative arts
* European art
* Preslav treasure
* Persian-Sassanide art patterns
* Goldsmith
* Shoami
* Umetada
* Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós
* Dhvaja

References