Just outside the center of Odense lies our relatively small goldsmith shop with our relatively small goldsmith workshop.
Don't let the small space intimidate you into thinking that the skills here must be very limited due to its size.
We probably have one of Denmark's best goldsmiths working here, and if he can't fix it, then no one can.
The goldsmith's name is Bo Larsen, and we have been working together for 20 years, starting every morning with a cup of coffee and discussing the state of the world around us.
Goldsmith Workshop
To have a fully functional workshop, you actually don't need many things, and it doesn't require a lot of square meters.
When I was an apprentice, I had a small workshop in my apartment, and many of my classmates had the same, so they could tinker around and earn a little money during their apprenticeship from family and friends.
Of course, you need a goldsmith's bench with a rim, preferably with drawers underneath on one side, and a comfortable chair to sit on.
Once that is in place, you'll need a small selection of hand tools, a ring clamp, a good hammer, a saw, a soldering iron, a drill, various drill bits, and a flat file.
So it turns out you need quite a bit, but with these tools, you can get pretty far.
Much of this can be purchased from Ravstedhus, and they actually have several options for a beginner's set for goldsmiths, so you can get started with relatively little investment.
Goldsmith Workshop with Casting
We are fortunate to have centrifugal casting, where we can make a mold of the best-selling models and relatively easily recreate them without spending many hours on each ring.
As you can see in the picture above, this is the centrifugal casting we have, and in the picture, you can see where the gold has just been flung into the plaster and is still glowing red.
Although the process is much easier when you choose to cast, it is still a time-consuming affair.
A rubber mold of the model must be made, in which you can shape the ring in wax (press a wax model), and then several pieces of jewelry are placed on a tree that has approximately the same size and weight.
After that, plaster is mixed and poured over the tree, and once it is dry and the wax has melted out, only then can you begin casting.
And then it becomes exciting to see if the mold has turned out well when the plaster is removed.
If the casting is just as it should be, then the ring, or whatever you have cast, needs to be cleaned up, and there may also be stones to be set in the piece of jewelry.
Apprenticeship Goldsmith?
It takes 4 years to become a goldsmith, and to get an apprenticeship, you need to find a position with an approved goldsmith. This can be quite difficult, as there aren't many workshops left in Denmark, and you have to be very lucky that they happen to be looking for an apprentice.
You will need to attend a technical school in Fredericia or Copenhagen, where you will go through the various courses.
When I was an apprentice, it was 20 + 10 + 10 + 5 weeks in school, and I lived at the school residence in Emdrup. Of course, this may have changed many times since then, and it's likely still being adjusted to make it as good as possible.
One thing is for sure, it was quite fun to be in the school periods, none mentioned and none forgotten.
Hopefully, it will end with you receiving a certificate of completion, and you can start taking on apprentices yourself.