When you hear the term metalsmith, you are probably hearing a reference to those who specialize in the craft of using many different metals such as copper, gold, or silver.  Jewelers, who work with different metals, will often call what they do metalsmithing, which is creating jewelry out of different metals by hand.        A metalsmith is a generic term for one who works with metals, such as copper, (coppersmith), gold (goldsmith), or silver (silversmith).  Smiths with a specific talent in working with a particular metal will often refer to themselves in this more specific manner, while metalsmiths can make custom, exquisite jewelry out all of all sorts of metal.  Metalsmith jewelers often will use scraps of metal and other material to create their handcrafted jewelry, and sometimes add gemstones to their original works of art.  Since metalsmith jewelry is handcrafted, no two pieces of jewelry will ever be alike.      

The term metal smith comes from the trade of metalworking, which can also be considered a hobby, a form of art, and an industry that is related to metallurgy, which is the science of jewelry making.  Metalworking and metalsmiths date back to many different ancient civilizations.  It is thought that the trade of metalsmiths has been around since well before the earliest humans.  It’s likely that at some point, people discovered that different stones and minerals had different properties; some would melt at very high temperatures, and could then be formed into various tools and other articles to be put to practical use.  Because of the mythology and lore that we know of today relating to gemstones and other minerals, it’s likely that at this time these ancient civilizations also attributed certain beliefs and special powers to some of these rocks, giving some of them great significance.  Over the years, the tools made by the earliest metalsmiths were so practical and handy in daily life that they continued to evolve over the centuries.  Other things were also created by this process, giving us what we call today, metalsmith jewelry.  Metalsmith jewelry, exquisitely beautiful and unique, is also extremely durable; therefore some of the jewelry has been passed down through family generations for many, many years.          

A metalsmith’s workplace is known as a forge or smithy.  If you hear the term forging, it is in reference to the process of shaping metal by means of plastic deformation.  A metalsmith who uses traditional forging will do so using high temperatures.  Some metalsmiths will also use cold forging, which is the same process, only it is done at much lower temperatures.  The traditional method of forging at high temperatures is much easier since the heat makes the metal much easier to work with and shape, and is also much less likely to fracture.           

One of the first metalsmith jewelers was a Navajo named Delgadito.  He took great pride in his abilities as a metalsmith and much of his craftsmanship continues to provide influence among Navajo metalsmiths, and the most important source of income for the Navajo tribe still remains to be their intricate silverwork. Metalsmith jewelry is often refered to as handcrafted jewelry, as most of the work is done by hand.