The term toreutics, relatively rarely used in English, refers to artistic metalworking[ Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art Volume II (Aesthetics) by G. W. F. Hegel and T. M. Knox (1998) p.161][ How to Understand Sculpture by Margaret Thomas, Kessinger Publishing, 2005, p.25] – hammering gold or silver (or other materials), engraving, or using repoussé and chasing to form minute detailed reliefs or small engraved patterns.[ Hutchinson Encyclopaedia. Helicon Publishing LTD 2007] Toreutics can include metal-engraving – forward-pressure linear metal removal with a burin.[ Jewelry Concepts & Technology by Oppi Untracht (1982) p. 283]
Toreutics is extremely ancient,[ How to Understand Sculpture by Margaret Thomas, Kessinger Publishing, 2005, pp. 25–6] and depending on the metal used will survive burial for periods of centuries better than art in many other materials. Conversely if above ground it was likely to be melted down and the metal reused. Until the Middle Ages it was also among the art forms with the highest prestige.
Archeological background
It was practised in the
Bronze Age and was well established centuries before the
shaft graves.
[ Social Transformations in Archaeology: Global and Local Perspectives (Material Cultures) by Kri Kristiansen (1998) p.135] Toureutic items of special quality from the
Iron Age are the
Certosa situla from Italy and from
Slovenia the Vače situla and the Vače belt-plate. Toreutics flourished to an unusual degree among the peoples of
Asia Minor,
Assyria,
Babylon, and passed from thence to
ancient Persia.
[ The Cambridge History of Iran by I. Gershevitch (1985) p.154] One spectacular example of the direct influence of Persia in toreutics is believed to be the Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós found in
Transylvania in 1799, and considered to be work of Old
[ A Short History of Modern Bulgaria by R.J. Crampton, Cambridge University Press, 1987] gold smiths. It consists of 23
marine vessel and has been attributed to
Attila's
Huns,
[ The Empire of the Steppes, a History of Central Asia by Rene Grousset (transl. by Naomi Walford), Rutgers University Press, 2005, p.25] the
Pannonian Avars[ Warriors of the Steppe by Erik Hildinger, Da Capo Press, 1997, pp. 57–92] and
Pechenegs. The majority of scholars however, consider it Bulgarian (
Proto-Bulgarians,
[ Bulgaria – Land of Ancient Civilizations by Dimiter Dimitrov, Foreign Language Press, Sofia 1961, p.33] Bulgars), because of its
runic inscriptions.
[ Bulgarian's Treasures from the Past by Ivan Venedikov, Sava Boyadjiev and Dimiter Kartalev, Foreign Languages Press, Sofia 1965, pp. 345–55.]
Etymology
Toreutics comes from
Greek language "τορεύς" which means "borer, pierceror". As is so commonplace in Greek, there is also an associated abverb, i.e. "τορευτικός"
[ Sculpture: Some Observations on Shape and Form from Pygmalion's Creative Dream by Johann Gottfried Herder and Jason Gaiger (2002)] which means "of or for metal work". In both cases the root is the verb "τορεύω" which means "to work in relief";
[ Conspiracy of Catiline and the Jurgurthine War by Sallust (2004/6) p.62/72] to work in relief. As
Ancient Greek extends back to the Proto-Indo-Germanic language in which the root is
*terə- which describes the art of working metal or other materials by the use of embossing and chasing to form minute detailed reliefs. The origin of the use of
toreutics in the
English language goes back to 1830–40; < Gk toreutikós, equiv. to toreú(ein) 'to bore, chase, emboss' (v. deriv. of toreús graving tool) -
tikos.
Applications
-
Greek art style,
[ Sideris, A., "Les tombes de Derveni. Quelques remarques sur la toreutique", Revue Archéologique 2000, pp. 3-36.] Inscriptions on toreutics[ Sideris, A., "Bronze Drinking Vases Bearing Dedicatory Inscriptions", Eirene 38, 2002, pp. 167-201.]
-
Achaemenid art–Persian–Sassanid
[ Athens and Persia in the Fifth Century BC: A Study in Cultural Receptivity by Margaret C. Miller (2004) p.59. Sideris, A. "Achaemenid Toreutics in the Greek Periphery", in Darabandi S. M. R. and A. Zournantzi (eds.), Ancient Greece and Ancient Iran. Cross-Cultural Encounters, Athens 2008, pp. 339-353.] style, Christian toreutics,[ The history of the origins of Christianity: Volume 3 by Ernest Renan (2007) p.95] Folk craftsmanship, Bulgaria
-
Beaten copper
[ Antique Brass & Copper Identification & Value Guide by Mary Frank Gaston (1991) p.19] (Tibet)
-
Tsuba gold toreutics (1860) Mito school.
Image:Potala-roof-toreutics80percent.jpg|Toreutics on the roof of Potala Palace (dragon head corner).
Image:Touretics-Dhvaja-wiki.jpg|Dhvaja on the roof of Sanga Monastery.
Image:Jewelry and clothing ornaments.jpg|Gold crafts from the Philippines prior to Western contact.
Image:BeatenCopper-Wheels70percent-wiki.jpg|Praying weels in Tsozong Gongba Monastery.
See also
