Repousse is a technique used in metalworking to shape malleable metal, by hammering the opposite side. The metal remains intact, being stretched to form a shape, without hindering its thickness or strength. Any ornament or design can be formed using this slow and intricate technique. Jewelry, wall hangings, plate armour and architectural panels are just a few products formed using repoussé techniques.
The technique of pressing patterns into metal has been applied since the first half of the 2nd millennium BC. Pattern punches were created using loops and scrolls of wire. Large repousse sculptures were traditionally made from copper, tin or bronze.
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Small, intricate artworks were historically made from gold and silver. Bronze Greek armor plates are known to be the most famous classical pieces, made from the 3rd century BC. One of the most famous examples of repousse is the Statue of Liberty, in New York City. This repousse was sculpted by hammering sheets of copper around structures made of wood, forming the Statue of Liberty. Another sculpture, Portlandia, by Raymond Kaskey was sculpted and exhibited in Portland, Oregon in 1985.
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