Casting call

Local pewtersmiths capture the beauty of churches forever in metal

By Nancy Kennedy
Chronicle writer

Yankeetown pewtersmiths, Rick and Susan Steingress, collectors and creators of, among other things, ecumenical pewter, have sensed this live for the church from its members and have discovered a way to capture the church's beauty and grace for posterity.

Working from a line drawing or clear black and white photo, the first step is making a mold by photo engraving the image to an aluminum pattern. Next, the profile of the church is cut out from the pattern, placed in between two raw rubber disks and then put into a heated press. This process softens the rubber enough to take on the lines and details of the aluminum.

Once the mold is created, it's placed into a spin cast machine. The actual ornament is make by ladling melted pewter into a hole in the top of the mold, then allowing the spin cast machine to distribute the liquid metal around the mold (thin: waffle iron with motion). Within seconds it's completed and can be removed and the sharp edges sanded off.

"Many times churches want a memento of a particular celebration, such as a centennial", explained Rick, "but I think the primary appeal is in the uniqueness."

So far they've done (or are in the process of doing) ornaments for the haunting Gothic-style United Methodist Church of Memphis, Tenn. (the city's oldest church), the simple country Gumcreek Presbyterian Church in Georgia, the Bascillica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, N.C., Several Citrus County churches as well are considering having ornaments made.

The couple hope to make this their primary focus in the future. As transplants from North Carolina for the past two years, the Steingresses enjoy being able to do their craft and run their business from the Yankeetown home they share with a menagerie of cats and dogs.

"I'm fascinated with ecumenical pewter and church-related designs", she said as she fingered a hand -hammered communion goblet. One of her favorite finds is a cup engraved with scenes from the shrine at Lourdes.

"We've found we enjoy working with church people", Rich admitted, "there's something so friendly about them when we call. Also, we feel this is a productive, meaningful way for a church or a church group to raise funds for a special project, leaving the contributors with a lasting, unique memento."

For further information, call Church Fundraisers at (828) 274-8165 or see samples on the world wide web at www.church-fundraisers.org.