A maker of vessels, tableware, objects and jewelry in silver, shaped from sheet or cast, then soldered and finished.
A silversmith makes objects in silver as well as jewelry: Swiss vocational guidance lists bowls, platters, jugs, cups, cutlery and jewelry. Hollow pieces may begin as flat sheet; the V&A describes a vase raised from a flat sheet of silver into a three-dimensional form with hammers, stakes and heat, then embossed and chased. France’s Onisep names the forming techniques rétreinte, repoussage and planage, followed by soldering, chasing or engraving, and polishing. Its orfèvre shapes silver or vermeil; in France the work is now mostly restoration, and pieces in precious metals go mainly to luxury hotels and restaurants.
Silver is alloyed for strength. Under the US FTC jewelry guides, sterling means at least 925 parts per thousand pure silver; British hallmarking recognizes 999, 958 (Britannia), 925 and 800. A goldsmith works mainly at jewelry; in Switzerland the two trades are separate four-year apprenticeships.
In job listings
Silversmith titles are uncommon and sit in jewelry houses’ workshops. One listing asks for fabricating silver pieces from technical drawings, soldering and annealing with the torch, hand forming, hallmarking by hand and hollowware. Polishers in service centers finish flatware and hollowware as well as jewelry, and may count silversmithing as relevant experience. See current silversmith roles.
