repoussé

Repoussé (from French repousser, to push back) is a metalworking technique in which sheet metal is shaped by hammering from the reverse to create a raised design. The process is usually carried out on soft metals such as gold, silver, copper, or pewter, often with sheets 0.5–3 mm thick. The metal is annealed to soften, placed on a supporting surface (pitch, a wooden block, or an anvil), and a pattern is traced or pressed into the back. Work begins on the reverse side; punches and a hammer raise the metal into a relief on the front. Details can be refined with chasing tools from the front. The term repoussé is sometimes used interchangeably with embossing, though in metalwork the two are complementary: repoussé builds the form from the back, chasing defines the final details from the front.

Historically, repoussé appears in ancient civilizations (Egypt, Mesopotamia); it was widely used in Greek and Roman metalwork; medieval and Renaissance sacred metalwork featured extensive repoussé panels and vessels. The technique was revived in the 18th–19th centuries for decorative panels, jewelry, and ceremonial objects, with notable production in French and Italian workshops. Later revived by artists in the Art Nouveau period and by contemporary metalworkers.

Common applications include decorative plaques, altar panels, vessels, and jewelry. The combination repoussé and chasing is typical: repoussé forms the relief from the back; chasing refines the surface from the front. The technique requires soft metal, careful annealing, and secure backing; the metal can be finished by polishing or patination to emphasize the relief.