Hello All,
Im new to this forum and just want to say hi.
I am a silversmith/chaser based out of Northern Nj. I recently left my job of 13 years as a chaser/silversmitnh with Tiffany & Co to run my silver studio full time. I also have just introduced a set of 25 chasing tools after several years of design and development with a major Jewelry Tool Manufacturer. My website shows the tools in detail, Nechamkin.com

I am totally in love with the process of chasing and repousse' which I was introduced to by master chaser and Professor, Leonard Urso at RIT. During my time at Tiffany and Co. the Holloware shop where I worked handled all of the silver repair for the archives and for customer service. I had the unique experience of conserving and repairing some seriously amazing chased historic holloware. I learned more by observing the details of that chasing than any class could ever teach. I began to try to replicate some of the techniques I observed in those details. It has been the biggest influence in my chsing style. Soon after beginning with T&Co, an old timer introduced me to the son of a past Tiffany Chaser. His father chased there from the late 1800's into the 1940's. In total, 60years!
When he began as an apprentice in his 20's, there were dozens of chasers. When He retired in his 80's there were less than a dozen. He had acquired the Chasing Tools of many co-workers.

His son GAVE me over 2000 of his father's chasing tools . The mother load of all mother loads for sure!! The real kicker is: he would not accept a dime from me in return. He was just excited to find someone who was going to use and love them as his father had.

I have been chasing and making chasing tools for years. I started making them when there was a new chaser at Tiffany&Co, and then teaching new chasers how to make them, and then I began to teach classes.
I will be teaching a chasing class at Touchstone Center For Crafts June 6-12, this summer 2010

Another thing my studio specializes in is Antique silver restoration repair. Because of the repair aspect of my business, I have become involved in restoring old rusty tools as well. I just finished excavating a great old set of 300 chasing tools from decades of rust and grime. It was thrilling to reveal the original mfr's marks and marks of past chasers. Most proper old sets of chasing tools have one or more marks indicating the owner. I wish they could talk.
I learn as much about chasing by studying my vast array of tool shapes, as I have from observing historic chased piecs.

Anyhow this is very long so I will end with this: If anyone is interested in chasing and repousse' classes, have a look at the Touchstone website, you can sign up for my summer class there. very Affordable and fun.
Liza Nechamkin