Re-creating a medal

[mtgraver]

First and foremost my apologies for the quality of the photographs.
The "Order of Military Merit" was established by Louis XV, March 10, 1759, to reward officers of the Protestant religion serving in France.
This medal was commissioned on a tight budget so I elected to make it with the skills I felt comfortable. Instead of wax model, casting in gold and hard enamel, we elected to use brass, gild with 24k gold and cold enamel, an epoxy basically.
I started with 1/16" sheet brass, decided on the approximate size, made the pattern, transferred to the brass. I used some advice that James Miller mentioned so I cut the outline with a graver and then pierced and sawed out the piece following the graved lines. Once cut out I could finish cutting the other side and when all is completed, I fabricated the bale area and brazed onto the top of the medal, attached the ring , shipped out to be gilded and finished with the enamel. The enamel color of dark blue should surround the lettering, the thin layer didn't give the color but the red was almost perfect so I missed in that regard. I'm pleased with my first attempt, not that I will be making any medals any time soon but valuable lessons and challenges prevailed.
Any comments or critiques are welcome, I hope ya'll enjoy.
Mark

 

[Haraga.com]

Wow! Good job.

 

[Harpuahound]

As a jeweler That understands how budget effects the method of creation. Id say you did a magnificent job! The customer should be exstatic.

 

[Jane]

dang cool!

 

[Bunic]

I can hardly imagine what you have created out of that simple piece of metal!!! Tnx! for the inspiration!

 

[Tira]

Thanks for posting the in-process pictures. It's very interesting to see the process and how people work. The finished project looks great.

 

[DakotaDocMartin]

You put your heart and soul into your work Mike. That had to be a labor of love for sure. Great job! :thumbs up:

 

[Cloudy]

WOW! And thanks for the progress photos- That must have been a cool project!

 

[Bama]

Great work Mark. Your work is very impressive and I see your artistic talent reaches out much father than creating beautiful long rifles. Hope you had a Blessed Christmas.

 

[mtgraver]

Thanks everyone, I'm glad you enjoyed the short tutorial, not real descriptive but I think you got the gist.
Mark

 

[Kevin P.]

Mark, as they say a picture is worth . . . . Your medal is great and the sequence of photos is very educational. Thanks for letting us look.
Kevin P.

 

[canadian]

Mark,
It is amazing what you can do with just a piece of brass, few engravers and some enamel.
Thanks for sharing.
You did an admirable job.
Boris

 

[Peter E]

VERY fine work Mark! I would think the customer would be THRILLED with the result.

 

[AndrosCreations]

Mark, that is excellent work! This is real art... the epoxy looks nice as an 'enamel'.