Chromatic Smithing: The Whole Spectrum Of Metalsmithing

History

The book was published in 2060CE as people were getting confused between the differences of metalsmiths that operate currently. As there have been people who go to one particular metalsmith expecting to commission a particular product but instead finding that they were at the wrong type of metalsmiths.
This continued to the point where both parties of customer and metalsmith were getting frustrated. A plan was devised to educate the masses so that this issue would have less occurrence. The book is used as a textbook in citizenship classes to educate students on the different metalsmiths and what metals they use. The book, which is highly known for its Turquoise colour, can be bought at any book retailer and therefore it is not just a book for the school system.

Background

This book once published and taught in citizenship classes for ages 14 to 16. Students, once they left education, were less likely to go to the wrong metalsmiths. Since the book was widely accessible the population that were not taught this, taught themselves. This had a particular impact as the confusion was lifted.

Production

Since Birdencaster has a forestry industry, it has a stable production of wood. Unfortunately for the printing industry, not enough wood is produced for everything. So all products that need wood without the wood being destroyed, for example in the papermaking process, are made. Therefore the book is not published within the city. The sawdust and woodchips are exported to make the paper, as there is not enough space for a paper mill.

Public Reaction

The book is well known for its turquoise colour and has a nickname, Cox Book, referencing not just the colour but the class that it is used in as part of the education that citizens of Birdencaster get. The book is well received by the general public. Students may of course not enjoy the book as it is part of their schooling. The general public enjoys the book as it helped them after leaving education.
The Book got its nickname from Copper and Oxidation. As Copper oxides, it can go a green colour. The “Co” from copper and “x” for oxidation. Coincidentally this spells Cox, a type of apple, which can be red like copper, it can also relate to the fact the book is used in Education.

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Chromatic Smithing: The Whole Spectrum Of Metalsmithing

Introduction

In the recent past, we had citizens confused about what the variations of colour metalsmiths work with. This is particularly true with the Redsmith and Brownsmith. Since it is obvious what a coppersmith or a brass smith does, the metal they work with are in the names of the occupation. It is apparent that this is not the case with the colour smith system that we use today. Therefore this book was created to educate its readers on its differences between colour metalsmiths.

What is the Colour metalsmith system?

The colour metalsmith system is to name metalsmith the colour of the metal they use. This was a far simpler way of communicating than using the older system of stating the metal beforehand like a coppersmith. The colour system had to be refined in 2055 as the definitions became confusing as they had historic significance but made it more confusing for the wider public, so the definitions were simplified. While it is true that there were lower down operations a metalsmith could produce and still be called that type of metalsmiths such as with a Ferrier producing horseshoes from Iron or Steel. All Blacksmiths today produce everything that the other lower down blacksmiths would produce in the past. If it is made out of Iron or Steel a Blacksmith can produce it! In the coming sections, the differences between the metalsmiths and the historic descriptions will be given.

Blacksmith

Blacksmiths work with Steel and Iron as part of their metalsmith job. Their occupation dates back before the Middle Ages to the Iron Age. Their role was to forge metal into the desired shape, from Iron and Steel. After making the shape of an axe for example the resulting axe shape would be black giving the blacksmith his name. He would then give the axe its handle. Using this handle he would sharpen the axe to get it into working order. While in the past there were multiple things a Blacksmith could be called such as a Ferrier made shoes for horses. Today we have one name of occupation that deals with the metals Iron and Steel, being the Blacksmith.

Whitesmith

Whitesmiths work with white metals such as tin, lead, silver, and pewter. This occupation dates back to the 13th century and back to the Roman era for pewter smithing. While historically in the late 1600s Whitesmiths would do the sharpening stages of the Blacksmithing role and this part of the process would be called Whitesmithing. Contemporary Whitesmiths do not do this.

Jewellers

While Goldsmiths could be considered today as Yellowsmiths, this is not the case today as they only produce Jewellery. Where metalsmiths only use silver to produce Jewellery they are not considered Whitesmiths but rather Jewellers.

Brownsmith

A Brownsmith is a metalsmith that works with Brass and bronze of its various ratios of copper and tin. The confusion may have laid in the fact copper can be brown as it tarnishes. The origin of a Brownsmith dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period.

Redsmith

The Redsmith works with copper only, the red comes from the colour of the copper. They make items out of copper which can range from cutlery, all the way up to stills in the distillery industry. The origin of a coppersmith comes from the green stones in the middle east and its civilisation. This type of smithing came to the British Isles when we were in the Bronze age.
The confusion between the Brownsmiths and Redsmiths may also apply to the fact in the past that if a Redsmith worked with brass as well they were considered a Brownsmith while a Redsmith only worked with copper. In 2055 the definition was simplified to only Brownsmith works with brass and bronze while a Redsmith only works with Copper.

Greensmith

The Greensmiths get their name from copper when it tarnishes green. It is understood that like Whitesmiths when they used to sharpen a blacksmith’s work, a Greensmith would work with green tarnished copper as part of the Redsmith process but would be called Greensmiths instead. The Greensmith can trace its roots back to the 7th Century. In our present time, Redsmiths would do a Greensmiths job and there are no job roles called a Greensmith only in the historic context.

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Type - Educational Text Book
Medium - Paper Clothbound (Hardback) Book
Publication Status - Published and Widely Known
Authoring Date - 2060 CE
Book Author - Edward Cole

Article Contents

References

[1] Name Generator for Author of the book

References Used In The Book

[1] The Difference Between a Blacksmith, Whitesmith, Brownsmith, Redsmith [Medieval Professions: Smith] Youtube video
[2] Wikipedia article on Blacksmithing
[3] Merriam Webster definition of a Whitesmith
[4] Times - Exploring Surrey's Past

Acknowledgements

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