Kaminer Haislip at the American College of the Building Arts

Silversmithing Studio in the Blacksmithing Shop

Photography by Paul Cheney

New Guilloche Design Development

Guilloche, or Engine Turning, is a handcrafted process utilizing a manual machine to put engraved lines, designs, and patterns into metal. Though the technique has its roots in ancient times, the machines used today, most built before WWI, have their origins in 18^th century France and Switzerland.

Brought into mainstream culture by Breguet in the 18^th century and Faberge in the 19^th century, the decoration on silver objects, such as cigarette cases and belt buckles, was extremely popular during the 1920s Art Deco era.

Sterling Silver Rialto Cuff Bracelet I & II by Kaminer Haislip

Sadly, my college professor Alfred Ward, an internationally acclaimed silversmith from England, recently passed away. The American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, South Carolina, where I teach an elective metalsmithing and jewelry class, purchased many of his tools and equipment from his estate. One of those items included a Guilloche Hall Straight Line machine, made in Rhode Island in the early 20^th century, so I have learned how to use it for both my artwork and to teach my students.

The journey has been fascinating and sometimes frustrating as it is an extremely difficult process. It has been very meaningful and special to incorporate Guilloche into my work with my mentor and dear friend’s machine and carry forth his legacy with it. Rialto was my first Guilloche jewelry series and is a tribute to Alf.

Sterling Silver Rialto Split Earrings by Kaminer Haislip

In March of 2025, I traveled to Le Brassus, Switzerland to study Guilloche with Calina Shevlin, one of the few experts in the world that teaches it. Coincidentally, or not, it worked out for me to leave on March 15, Alf’s birthday.

My travel and studies were funded in part by a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission and the American College of the Building Arts. It was an incredible experience and I learned so much in just one week! Learning more about the mechanics of the machine was one aspect of my training, but expanding my Guilloche skills was the main focus of my time there.

I’m so incredibly grateful for the support of the American College of the Building Arts not only for purchasing Alf’s Guilloche machine, but also for seeing the value in adding this unique process to our educational offerings at the college. It truly is an obscure art that very few metal artists ever have a chance to learn or experience.

My students in my Beginner Jewelry Making, Textures on Metals, and Intermediate Jewelry Making classes all have used it to put patterns and designs into their metal creations. Learning Guilloche in depth from a true master in Switzerland was important for not only building my skills, but being able to teach it to my students. I cannot wait to see what they craft next!

 

Two images above: Kaminer Haislip with her ACBA student Riley White, a Blacksmith

Over the past year since returning from Switzerland, I have honed my skills by practicing with the machine on lots of brass sheet before moving to silver. It is operated manually through a series of specific settings to achieve different engraved patterns on metal. Each engraved line is cut individually by hand to create the pattern, so it requires a lot of focus and concentration and is an extremely slow process.

After making prototypes in brass, then I make the final piece in silver. This past fall I introduced several new jewelry pieces to the Rialto collection. As my technique has progressed, I have been developing new Guilloche designs. I’m currently working on a new series, so stay tuned for those new pieces coming soon!

 

Shop the current collection in my website store Jewelry category.

 

Sterling Silver Rialto Fan Pendant Large by Kaminer Haislip