The first stage of production is designing the piece and making the model.  Rob spends several days - or as long as is necessary - sketching and revising designs.  When the pattern is settled, he makes the model, which will be used to make the rubber mold of the piece.  The more effort and time that goes into making the model, the better the result will be when production begins.

This initial process is where much of Rob's most artistic skill is employed, as he must visualize what the piece will look like and translate that to paper to confirm that the pattern will be what he wants.  He must then put that drawing to metal, which gives the final impression of what the piece will look like.  This is where Rob's work differs from that of most jewelers'; his original models are made in metal, not wax, using age-old fabrication techniques..  This provides the distinctive clean edges and sharp relief that characterize R.E. Piland pieces. 

 

Start Over -- Next Step: Making the Model

 

 

 

[an error occurred while processing this directive]