East Kingdom Metalsmiths' Guild

ANNOUNCEMENT - MSS9

Metalsmiths' Symposium 9 will be held Sept 24-26, 2010, in the Barony of Stierbach, Atlantia.

Greetings all!

So do you want to learn how play with metal and glass? How about how using tools? Casting? Making jewelry? Or playing with fire? Well there is an event for you.

The Metalsmith Symposium. An event focused for those interested in learning about various metal and glass arts. Held for the first time in Atlantia in the Barony of Stierbach on Sept 24-26.

Come to http://www.stierbach.org/events/metalsmith/metalsmiths.php to check out the event and the classes being offered.

Gustav, Autocrat MSS9

Metalsmiths' Symposium 2 - CAL will be held Sept 3-6, 2010 (Labor Day) in Calontir.

For those who are a bit too far west to make it to the Symposium in Atlantia, we've got one here in Missouri. This is the second time we've done this, and if the first is any indication, it's going to be an amazing time.

Even better: the Calontir Symposium is 3-6 September (Labor Day) while Atlantia's is 24-26 September, so you can attend both!

The event is posted online at http://www.threeriver.org/symposium/

Right now my class lists are roughly half posted, and there's still plenty of room for more teachers -- and we can absorb as many students as can make it. I've currently got hands-on classes on four different techniques of medieval casting (wax, sand, soapstone, and clay), knife-making, enameling, repousse, file-cutting, metal inlay, beads, stained glass, wire weaving, pin making, needle making, wire drawing, ring making, arrowheads, forge welding, armoring, and many more. If you're in the midwest, you definitely don't want to miss this event!

Our site is a small farm owned by a local member. This is a camping event. The usual port-o-johns will be present, and we have a new shower trailer. (I'm told the burner is now working, so it should be HOT showers!) There will be bonfires, brew, and singing both saturday and sunday nights.

Come one, come all, teach, learn, and revel with us around the bonfire in the evening!

-Francis Bean
-Event Steward, MSS2-CAL

If you want more information about Metalsmiths' Symposium, please see the Metalsmiths' Symposium page for everything you ever wanted to know about MSS but were afraid to ask :-)

What is the Guild Up To?

Guild Photo Gallery (photos!)	(Guild Calendar)	Guild Library
Past Projects (more photos!)	(Present Projects)	(Future Plans)
Guild Awards	Guild Members' Projects Gallery
(Research)	Makers' Marks	Links

What are we?

The East Kingdom Metalsmiths' Guild is dedicated to the study and teaching of all the metalsmithing arts and sciences: blacksmithing, smelting, casting, working in various metals, jewelrymaking, glassblowing, glass lampworking (beads, etc.), and the like.

What is our history?

The guild was founded as a local shire-level group (called the Silver Rylle Metalsmiths' Guild) in approximately Anno Societatis XXXIV (2000). Having gained momentum and membership ever since then, it attracted attention from people outside the shire, and when they joined the Guild, it could no longer retain its provincial name. After a short stint as the Southern Region Metalsmiths' Guild, it was finally renamed the East Kingdom Metalsmiths' Guild, and its Royal Guild charter was signed at Kingdom Twelfth Night, Jan 8th, A.S. XXXIX (2005).

How do I get involved?

If you wish to learn any of the arts and sciences of metalsmithing, contact any guild member, who will connect you with someone knowledgeable in the field you wish to learn; if you don't know any guild members, feel free to contact the Guildmistress, who will be glad to introduce you.

Do I have to join the Guild to learn something?

Certainly not! The Guild has been charged by our Charter to share their knowledge with any subject of the Kingdom who approaches them and asks to be taught. You have no obligation to become a guild member in order to be taught by one. Come along with us and have fun!

How do I join the Guild?

Anyone who expresses a desire to join the ranks of the Guild is certainly welcome to do so. Guild members are encouraged to teach others, but it is not required that you excel in every subject. If someone approaches you to learn something that you don't feel competent to teach, you may instead refer them to another teacher or to the Guildmistress. You may also choose to become an Associate Member, stating that you wish to be affiliated with the Guild without claiming an explicit Guild Membership if that wouldn't suit your persona or your personality. In either case, contact the Guildmistress, Lady Carowyn Silveroak, and let her know you're interested in joining.

But I'm not a Laurel or a Maunche, can I still join?

Of course! You don't have to be any sort of expert to join the Guild. If you know something, even at a basic level, you can teach it to those who don't know it at all. And if you don't know something, you can learn from those who do, and then turn around and teach it! It's not knowledge itself we're looking for: it's the love of knowledge, and the willingness to learn and to teach. Come join us!

How can I keep informed?

You might want to join the Guild's mailing list. Even if you're not a Guild member, feel free to join the list, to find out what we're up to! To catch up with what we've already been talking about, check out the list archives.

People wishing to get involved with planning the next Metalsmiths' Symposium might want to join the MSS_Planning mailing list. (Archives)

There is also an Ancient_Lampwork mailing list, used to discuss period lampwork glass bead lamps and to coordinate the project of designing and building one. (Archives)

What's this I hear about a metal charter?

What else would you make the charter out of for a guild of metalworkers? The charter is done in repousse and enamel on brass. If you want to see it, His Majesty has charged the Guildmistress with displaying it at as many events as possible, so you may just come across it at an event near you. If you don't get a chance to see the original, a photograph of the charter, along with a transcription of the text, can be found here.

Downloadable Guild Resources

There is now a Guild flyer available for you to hand out at events. It looks a lot like this web page, and it is available for download here. Have fun!

What's the Guild's shipping address?

Anything for the Guild can be shipped by way of the Guildmistress, whose address can be found here.

Disclaimer:

This is the recognized Web Page for the East Kingdom Metalsmiths' Guild of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and is maintained by Lord Corwyn Ravenwing. This site may contain electronic versions of the group's governing documents. Any discrepancies between the electronic version of any information on this site and the printed version that is available from the originating office will be decided in favor of the printed version.

For information on using photographs, articles, or artwork from this website, please contact the web minister at webminister@ekmg.eastkingdom.org. They will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributors.