What is Precious Metal Clay?

Precious Metal Clay (PMC), also sometimes called silver clay, is a mixture of very fine pure silver particles, an organic binder and water. The resultant mixture can be shaped, moulded and textured a bit like modelling clay.  Once the desired shape has been achieved the item is allowed to dry out and the design refined by sanding.Then comes the magical part. The finished item is fired, in a kiln or with a blow torch. The binder burns away and the silver particles fuse leaving pure silver also known as fine silver. It feels like alchemy, putting a piece of clay into the kiln and then on removing it giving it a brush and seeing the gleam of silver. Recent innovations mean that Metal Clay is now available in copper and bronze which hugely extends the design opportunities to the artist.