Chasing
A technique for decorating silver items with relief ornament
Chasing is one of the oldest methods of decorating metal, known since antiquity. Its essence is that the craftsman creates a relief on a plate using a hammer and special chasing tools—instruments with different ends and shapes. The surface is "embossed" from the reverse side and then refined from the front: thus a three-dimensional image is born without removing material.
This technique allows conveying the finest details—from facial expressions to the folds of fabric. Works in silver and copper were especially prized, and later in gold. In medieval Europe, chased icons and book covers were considered the pinnacle of jewelry art. In 18th-century Russia, chased portraits and coats of arms were popular.
Interestingly, craftsmen often worked "blind"—the image was formed from memory, as the front side was turned downward.