Chasing and Repousse

The technique of chasing and repousse is a technique where metal is being worked from the front and the back to create a three dimensional design. Repousse involves hammering from the back, while chasing involves finishing, detail and defining on the front. The metal piece is formed with a hammer and tools of different shapes, making indentations and marks in the desired places. It is put in a putty like substance called pitch to hold the piece in place until it is ready to be taken out with a heat gun, and then heated to remove the leftover pitch and annealed.