Damascening. Inlaid work of gold or silver on an inferior metal (generally steel in early examples). The following quotation from Cellini’s Memoirs shows the use damascening was put to in Renaissance times.
“It happened about this time that certain vases were discovered, which appeared to be antique urns filled with ashes.
“Amongst these were iron rings inlaid with gold. Learned antiquarians, upon investigating the nature of these rings, declared that they were worn as charms by those who desired to behave with steadiness and resolution in both prosperous and adverse circumstances. I likewise undertook some things of this nature at the request of some gentlemen who were my particular friends, and wrought some of these little rings ; but I made them of well-tempered steel, and then set and inlaid them with gold so that they were very beautiful to behold. Sometimes for a ring of this sort I was paid about forty crowns.”
