SILVERSMITH - Garth Duncan - Knives & Daggers - Skye, Scotland.

Participants on this course will be given the option of making a small dagger, or a piece of jewellery, or, depending upon time available, both! Garth Duncan and Rob Miller work together at Strathaird Steading, a spectacular location at the foot of the Black Cuillin, where Rob hand-forges and finishes blades, while Garth crafts sword hilts and jewellery at Duncan House.

The course will introduce the fascinating history of the place, the reasons why Rob and Duncan work together there, before moving on to explanation of materials, and how the forging process works.

Individuals will have a chance to forge their own small blade, under Rob's supervision, working in various types of metal--working the blade in the foundry, then, with Garth, molding decorative designs in wax for the hilt, before casting in silver. This is an oppportunity to work from start to finish of a very unique item.

Some participants may prefer to work solely with Garth on jewellery-making, but both options are available.




 
Artist: Garth Duncan & Rob Miller

Garth Duncan (Silversmith--swords, daggers and jewellery)

Garth Duncan originated in Oregon, but was constantly kept in touch with his Scottish ancestry by his family's frequent visits to Scotland. At the age of 15 he started metal work under the guidance of a Navaho silversmith, Joe Madrid, in New Mexico.

In 2001, he and his family moved to Skye. As Garth says, "You can't choose the place of your birth, but I know this is where I choose to die." Duncan House, where Garth lives and works, is right at the foot of the dramatic Cuillins.

He works in the style of Art Nouveau, American Indian, ancient Egyptian, contemporary fine jewellery and fancy stone setting, and traditional Celtic and Pictish work.

He has worked with many materials and on diverse projects from miniature knives and pave set diamonds to a glass top dining table made from old trophy ivory tasks, black iron and bright brass.

All of his work is hand carved, and he makes great efforts to keep traditional craft techniques alive. He is a romantic: "It is from looking at what is good and fine around us that honour, love and art grow."

Rob Miller (Sword-making. Hand-forging and finishing)

A native of Devon, Rob came to Skye and apprenticed as a swordsmith with one of Scotland's top sword-makers. He is now one of the few master swordsmiths in the world today, creating hand-forged and tempered blades in the traditional manner.

He set up "Castle Keep" on his own in 1991, making tough working swords, which are all hand-forged and finished. Rob intended to revive a forgotten art, and he has succeeded. When Garth Duncan moved to Skye from the States, Rob and he teamed up at Strathaird. Although Rob forges the blades for some of Garth's work, he mainly works independently as a sword-maker.