A useful site. There must be others!

The more i come across other people, places or sites from which answers and questions regarding my research arise, the more i am aware that there is a larger interest in it and am keen to understand why THEY are interested in this area, and to which market/consumer do they look.

Some answers may be found by examining these amongst others:
http://www.victorianweb.org/index.html
http://www.historichouseparts.com/antique_hardware_directory.html

Textiles and Wallpapers

Having noticed the ornate, textured patterning that seemed to cloth many 19th century household objects and walls and furniture, i have been making some such patterning of my own using silver and copper. My first approach was to use nitric acid etching on silver covered witha ptterned film of ink as a resist.

The pattern unfortunately became over etched and difficult to see, but on two test pieces was clear enough to make out. If the unintentional etching is not too severe it actually has an aged appearance which could be used anyway.

On the pieces which i was not going to use further or keep as test pieces i tried to roll them thinner and intended on using the back sides of them as an excercise in how thin metal can be to still etch deeply enough to see. I noticed, however, as the rough etchings were being rolled, that the grainy unintentional etching (which is shallower than those areas intended to etch) rolls smooth before the rest, making the before unclear pattern much clearer.

Vintage Handbags

I want to make miniature replicas of 19th century handbags to be worn as necklaces or pendants. They are heavily ornate either in the handle metalwork, fabric or both.

Green Final Piece