The discovery and subsequent fascination for precious metals and their fabrication, for personal adornment, status symbol, and for practical use dates from as early as 4600BC in Mesopotamia, and the surrounding lands of South West Asia. Through evidence from archaeological discoveries at Ur and other sites in Egypt, it is clear that all the principle methods of smelting, refining, forming, assembly and decorative techniques were evolved and still form the basis of precious metal working today.
As civilisations developed and society became more complex, so the status, role and importance of the artist craftsman in metal evolved to establish him in a position of prominence. Many fine pieces of work exist from the earliest of times, mostly in museum collections throughout the world, which are studied and admired by countless millions of people. |
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