Home | Our Craftspeople | How to Join | State Fair Map | Contact Us

NC Dept. of Agriculture | NC State Fair | Message Board

Jeffrey Jobe

Metal Smith

Member since 2004

Jeffrey Lawerence Jobe

Barking Dog Jewelry Design Studio

1 Oak Meadow Lane

Thomasville, NC 27360

E-mail: barkingdog@triad.rr.com

Web site: www.barkingdogjewelry.com

Metalsmith

Medium: Traditional silver, gold and copper work

As a specialist in hand forged and woven/braided metal, I use a mixture of traditional blacksmith and modern jeweler techniques and equipment. I am a native of North Carolina, trained in historical archaeology, with a subspecialty in metals. The main media used in the jewelry are precious metals, including sterling silver (nickel free), gold (yellow, white, red, and green in 10, 12, 14, and 18 karat), copper, and stone (Precious, semiprecious, and common). All precious and semiprecious stones used are genuine and are the highest  jewelry grade stones available (AA and AAA whenever possible).

The techniques used tend to fall into one of two main categories: 1) hand wrought (of commonly referred to as hand forged), and 2) woven or braided metal (not to be confused with wire wrapped jewelry). The hand forged jewelry consists of sheets of dead soft metal that has had designs either hammered into them or raised up off the surface of the metal. A variety of antique and modern anvils, hammers, metal working tools, and patterns cut by the artist in iron are used to initially form the image in the metal. At that point, the metal is folded, bent, and hammered to reduce the cross-section of the metal to the desired working thickness; a technique which is similar to the way antique Japanese swords were produced. The result is a tempered metal which is very strong, thin, and lightweight (as seen in the earrings). A variant of the technique, in contrast, produces hand wrought pieces that are quite heavy, as seen in the one inch cuffs. Woven metal, a blacksmith technique learned in 1999, in contrast, uses various gauges of dead soft sterling silver wire to create intricate braided designs in metal. Once the metal had been woven the cross-section of the metal is reduced through hammering thereby producing a form of tempered or 'spring' metal. The result, as seen in the woven cuffs and bangles, is a metal that will flex slightly as you slide it over your wrist but will retain its original shape.

Most of my inspiration comes from nature with it's multitude of graceful flowing lines and the natural geometric pattern one observes in it. Many times, I will see a form or shape in nature and I will take that idea or come part of it, tweak it, maybe twist it somehow, and reuse/restate that core essence in metal and/or stone. My goal is simple. To create designs that are not only meant to be viewed but to be touched. And to create designs that glorify God. Without the gifts and talents He has blessed me with, I couldn't be doing what I am doing.

(Click on thumbnail to see larger image.)

Jeffery's page has been visited times.