Silversmithing (sage ability)

Silversmithing is an amateur-status sage ability that enables the character to make jewelry and ordinary household objects of all kinds from lesser metals, including silver, pewter, brass, bronze, tin, copper and iron. The ability gives knowledge of the peculiarities of these metals and their use in making objects, such as how they ought to be handled or shaped. The character is able to judge the metal itself for its properties, but cannot make the metal; that is a different sage ability.

The ability grants no special knowledge in the sale or bartering of any objects that are made.

Tools

The character requires tools, including a small hammer and 3 lb. anvil, a hammer for dooming, a few fine pliers, blow-pipes, burnishers, scrapers, a die and punch, a pair of fine dividers and a delicate set of scales and weights. These comprise the chief appliances for a travelling jeweller. A square, strong table, some 5 ft. by 3, is necessary, as are the metals in the form of bars and plates. The character is fully able to flatten, fold, meld, solder or melt these metals for pouring, to produce the object desired.

Time

With ordinary items, say a cup or vessel, the amount of time required to create the object is a half-hour per ounce, plus one hour for any day the work must take place, to heat the fire and thence proceed. Thus, a tin cup weighing 8 ounces would require 4 hours to work the metal, plus one hour for the day, or a total of five hours.

Detailed work, such as the making of jewellery or precise metals, requires a half-hour per ounce to ready the metal, which transforms the metal into parts small enough that they can be worked without the need of a fire. This secondary work requires four hours per ounce. This includes the time needed to burnish and smooth the piece, to whiten or clean it, and any other minor work needed. The result is an object of ordinary value, or market value that's unadjusted by the quality of work being done. This relates to an object's comparative workmanship.

See also,
Bard Sage Abilities
Delicate Metalwork (sage study)