There are great rewards to the difficult hobby that is brassing and you will hear the same thing from this one couple who find much joy in doing this. In order for them to tell you all about brassing you should definitely ask nicely. The art of brassing makes use of certain images from the flat metal figures seen in tombs, images in churches in stones, as well as any other d’cor from 13th to 17th Century England and prints these on paper to make artwork that could be displayed.
Here, the process may seem simple to do but the couple says that this is not the case. Actually, before they were transferred to an Air Force base about a year ago they were stationed in England for four years. Collecting antiques is a common passion for this couple and they have managed to accumulate a number of antique dishes, utensils, furniture, and other things. Although brassing is unheard of in most parts of the United States, when the couple arrived in England they grew fond of the activity which was rather popular over there.
Placing them on tombs or the floors of nearby churches, in the 13th Century was when the upper class English began to honor their dead by having flat brass portraits engraved. The process involves transferring an image by placing special black paper over the brasses and then using a gold colored wax bar to rub against it.
On the paper the wax rubs off wherever there are ridges in the brass producing an image. It was possible for the couple to bring back 200 paper images not to mention a duplicate brass from the original monument. Dying in battle in 1277 was Sir John d’ Abernon and his was the brass that the couple treasures most. It takes months in advance when it comes to bookings for those who want to take rubbings off of this popular and earliest known brass.
Experienced people were the only ones permitted by the Vicars in charge of the brasses to make duplicates of the brasses and they were strict about this. 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.
Considering the large number initially put down from 1250 to 1650, about 8,000 monuments remain. Tracing the development of armor, clothing, and lifestyle all became possible after the historians were able to find clues from the monuments by means of these brasses. It has been through these brasses that discoveries about how a lion pictured at the feet of a knight means that he died in battle and a hound at someone’s feet meant that he liked to hunt with dogs could be made.
Brassing is not an ordinary concept in the US especially since art is just catching up here. Recreating etchings on tombstones, decorative engravings, and manhole covers can be accomplished through rubbing. It’s a fun hobby, although it took the couple four hours to complete the rubbing of Sir d’ Abernon. When it comes to displaying their rubbings, the couple has been asked by art shows and schools.
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