Under the name of " Albo-Metal Relief, " we have a new kind of repousse' work that will commend Itself to amateuis on account of its simplicity, cleanliness, and the freedom from noise connected with its execution. In enumerating these advantages, we have said not-ing of the good effect that is one of its chief merits. In its natural condition it resembles handsomely embossed silver or highly polished pewter. It is guaranteed not to tarnish and is very durable.

Beautiful results are to be obtained by tinting certain parts of the design by the.aid of Cinque-cento laquers. These are easily applied and are to be had in blue, red, green, orange, yellow, maroon, purple, olive and brown.

FIG. 1. - The Double-Ended Tracer.

Fig. 2. - The Double-Ended Ball Modeller

Fig. 3. - The Steel Leveller.

Fig. 4. - The Matting Punch.

The tools required are of a simple nature, and are not unlike those employed for leather work and other arts. A tracer is needed for making out the design upon the metal. This is pointed at one end and round' ed at the other end, Fig. 1, and is made of boxwood which, while firm enough to do its work well does not pierce the metal. The ball modeller, Fig. 2, also made of wood, is employed for rounding the design, and it often calls for the co-operation of the tracer. Fig. 3 shows the steel leveller for smoothing out the background previously to punching it with a matting punch in Fig. 3 to produce a pitted effect. A firm wooden table should be procured for working upon, or an ordinary drawing board. There is no messiness connected with this work with average care, so no special corner of the family sitting-room need be set apart for it, as is the case with wood-carving, fretwork, and some other arts. Upon the table or drawing-board should be stretched some thick cloth or felt. In all probability the household ironing blanket will be available and can be well borrowed. We are supposing that the design has already been chosen, and that it

Fig. 5. - Photograph Frame with Albo-Metal Decoration.

has been drawn distinctly upon a sheet of moderately thick paper. The sheet of metal should be spread, face upwards, upon onefold of the blanket; over it must be laid the design, the two materials being held together with stamp paper round the edges. Take the double-ended tracer, Fig. 1, and follow all the outlines with it. It is not necessary to do more at this stage than to mark out the design, so that it is plainly visible upon the metal. Remove the cloth and work over the outline again; this is the final tracing, so any little mperfections there may he can now be improved, and the outline in general made more distinct. Any veins of leaves, markings of flowers and other touches that there may be inside the outline must be put in.

Turn the metal over - that is, wrong side upward- and place it again upon the blanket, this time using two or three layers. Take the ball modeller, Fig. 2, or the tracer, Fig. 1, as may happen to be most convenient for the detail upon which the work is to be done, and press the design out from the back. Do this pressing evenly and, as it were, gradually, so that the metal becomes stretched and rounded, not pushed out with anything like an angular result. Take away the flannel and again turn the metal right side uppermost. Rub down the ground thoroughly with the leveller, Fig. 3. Press this carefully into all the angles between the design and round all the curves. This will throw the pattern up into still higher relief.

The next thing to do is to punch the ground all over to produce the pitted effect already mentioned. The metal should be laid on a slab of slate, marble, stone, or some similar hard and smooth material, and the punch should be held fully upright over the work and tapped with a light hammer.

The repousse' has next to be filled up at the back to prevent it from becoming dented in course of use. There are several substances that may be employed for this purpose, but the Relievo filling that is sold for gesso modelling is particularly clean and pleasant to use. It simply needs to be rubbed down with water till it is of the consistency of cream.

The composition must only be placed in the hollows of the repousse' work. None of it can be allowed to spread over the ground of the design, but if this should happen it can be easily taken off with a brush while wet, or with a penknife when dry. It is possible also that the filling may sink while drying, and if this is the case it must be raised by the adding of some more of the paste put on with a brush till it is exactly the level of the background. Leave the work till dry, then paste a sheet of paper over the whole of the background, using photographic mountenantor some other adhesive of a similar kind. When this is dry the decoration can be affixed with Tenasitine to any wooden, leather, or other kind of article for which it is destined. In this way, also, it is possible to utilize even the smallest scraps of the metal. They may have effective devices embossed upon them, and those may be cut round the edges and glued down to the corners of blotters, boxes and the like. The metal is thin and soft enough to be easily cut with scissors or a sharp penknife. In all probability it would lend itself well to fretwork, but of this method of employing it we have as yet had no personal experience. Certain it is that many of our wood-carving designs would work out well in this relief metal work.

Before parting with our subject altogether it is advisable to remind inexperienced workers that, when the paper has been pasted over the metal this must be laid, face downwards, on a soft pad of blanket or flannel, a board placed on the top, and upon this a heavy weight of books. This is to ensure that the paper will keep smoothly in its place, and the work should be left, thus undar pressure until it is dry. The same set of tools and the Relievo filling may be employed also for copper modelling. Thin copper costs rather less than the Albo-metal, but it does not keep its color nearly so well, and does not, in consequenee, offer so much attraction to an amateur.-" Hobbies, London."