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A Different Kind of Art

By: Kuykrs Michael

There is a couple who engage themselves in brassing but if you ask them they will tell you that this is no easy hobby but one which is very rewarding. When you ask them about it be nice so they will consider telling you what it is. In brassing, you are taking the images of the flat metal figures commonly seen in tombs, images in stones in churches, and other decorative pieces from 13th to 17th Century England and transfer them on paper to reproduce works of art that are ideal for exhibits.

A process like this is not as simple as it appears to be, according to the couple. England was home to this couple for four years until about a year ago when they were moved to an Air Force base. There is an interest in antique collection shared by the couple and their exploits have brought them to accumulate many antique dishes, utensils, furniture, and other things. Rather popular in England was brassing and the couple grew to love it when they were there but this activity is relatively unheard of when it comes to the United States.

In the 13th Century, the upper class English began honoring their dead by having flat-brass portraits of the dead engraved and placed over their tomb or on floor of a nearby church. The image is recreated when special black paper is placed over the brasses and is rubbed with a special gold colored wax bar which looks like a bar of soap.

An image appears as the wax rubs off on the paper following the ridge pattern in the brass. Brought back by the couple from the original monument were 200 paper images and a duplicate brass. From their brass collection the one they place much value on is that of Sir John d' Abernon who died in battle in 1277. This is the earliest known brass, and is so popular with people who take rubbings that appointments were booked months ahead of time.

What the couple took note of was how the Vicars in charge of the brasses were strict when it comes to the people who are allowed to duplicate the brasses. From the English comes much reluctance when it comes to permitting people to make the brass duplicates and this was caused by a number of Americans who went there and brought back duplicates selling them in New York for $2,000 each so a waiver is now needed stating the absence of any intent to sell before any duplication is allowed.

Out of the large number that was actually put down from 1250 to 1650, there are only 8,000 remaining monuments. Aside from being able to trace the development of armor and clothing historians have also been able to trace the development of lifestyle through these brasses as they unlocked clues from the monuments. Other than discovering how a lion pictured at the feet of a knight means that he died in battle, they were also able to find out that a hound at someone's feet meant that he liked to hunt with dogs.

Brassing is not an ordinary concept in the US especially since art is just catching up here. Rubbing can be used to make copies of manhole covers, etchings on tombstones, and other decorative engravings. It's a fun hobby, although it took the couple four hours to complete the rubbing of Sir d' Abernon. Being requested by several schools and art shows is that the couple display some of their rubbings.

Article Source: http://sports-articles.net

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