In just a few days, this training invites you to immerse yourself in the world of chasing. You will discover the history of this technique, learn to recognize and use the specific tools, master the vocabulary of the craft, and understand the fundamental principles that underpin it. An ideal immersion to acquire a solid foundation, pursue further training, or take your first steps during a workshop internship.

Upon completion of the training, the trainee will be able to:

• Know and name the main tools of the chaser (hammer, chisel, ball, cement, mat, files) as well as the techniques associated with them (matis marking, repoussé, reworking of the casting, etc.)
• Know how to reproduce the main gestures of the chaser using the basic techniques of matis marking, repoussé, and reworking of the casting, and how to handle the different tools
• Conceive and design an original decorative motif and determine the tools to use according to its needs
• Understand the process of setting a piece in cement during the work, including heating and cooling times
• Navigate and prioritize the steps involved in chasing a piece, from preparing the motif and applying the decoration, to chasing by recessing or repoussé, including the various intermediate stages (annealing, (de-icing, cleaning, cooling…)

An art of detail and patience, metal chasing has endured through the ages. Originating in antiquity, it has always been intertwined with the great skills of goldsmithing, sculpture, and the decorative arts. With precise blows of hammer and chisel, the metal comes alive without being removed, revealing reliefs, textures, and plays of light. From the treasures of ancient Egypt to Renaissance bronzes, and on to the masterpieces of the 18th and 19th centuries, chasing exists at the intersection of drawing and sculpture. Even today, it captivates with its exacting standards, its finesse, and the intimate dialogue it establishes between hand, tool, and material.

Throughout the training, participants gradually discover and practice using the iconic tools of chasing: hammers, chisels, balls, blowtorches, files, and more. The theme "Between Drawing and Sculpture, Chasing Takes Shape" serves as a guiding thread for a series of varied exercises, allowing them to explore the main decorative techniques: flat work (drawing, shaping), bas-relief (repoussé), and sculpture in the round (reworking from casting).

Beyond learning the technique, which is refined over time, this training offers a clear and structured understanding of the essential steps and their sequence, indispensable for designing and creating a chased decoration.

Schedule

Day 1

Morning

• Introduction of participants and the instructor
• Brief introduction to the history of chasing and its place in contemporary art
• Discovering the tools and techniques of chasing with a series of exercises on brass plates
• Tracing lines with a scriber
• Setting the plates in cement

Afternoon

• First steps with tools / straight chisels

Day 2

Morning

• Continuing the previous day's exercises, exploring tracing techniques with an introduction to curved lines and curved chisels
• Discovering flat areas of Textures through the variety of matte chisels

Afternoon

• End of the exercise
• Reflection and creation of a first personal motif by each participant based on a set of provided documents

Day 3

Morning

• Discovering three-dimensional form with repoussé
• Setting a new slab in cement
• Tracing the motif imagined the previous day with straight and curved chisels

Afternoon

• Setting the slabs upside down in cement
• Repousséing the negative form using planers

Day 4

Morning

• Transitioning from repoussé to sculpture in the round

bump

• Re-cementing the plates in place
• Finishing the decoration with textures

Afternoon

• Introduction to lost-wax casting
• Recasting previously cast bronze or brass models (Example: small animal sculptures prepared beforehand)
• Setting in cement

Day 5

Morning

• Introduction to the technique of relief chasing
• Chasing the cast iron or brass sculptures

Afternoon

• Finishing the sculptures
• Removing the pieces
• Training debriefing
• Storage of the workshop

• Classroom, multipurpose room, workshops with professional equipment
• Materials provided
• Individual and collaborative work
• Workshop sessions
• Active participation and experimentation by participants are encouraged

• Group and individualized monitoring of work, regular check-ins
• Self-assessment of technical skills
• Group presentation
• Attendance sheet for each half-day
• Certificate of completion issued by Campus MaNa