Determining the etymological origin of the term goldsmithing involves going to Latin, since it is from that language that it emanates. Specifically, we can say that the word aurifex comes from , which was derived from the sum of two clearly differentiated parts: the word aurum , which can be translated as “gold”, and the verb facere , which is synonymous with “do”.
The metalwork is the art of styling objects, whether or utensils ornaments of precious metals or alloys thereof. The goldsmith usually works with gold or silver to develop his works. For example: "My grandfather is a master of goldsmithing" , "The presidential cane is a sample of the best of national goldsmithing . "
Currently one of the fields in which goldsmiths work the most is religious. And it is that in those countries, for example, where Catholicism is the reigning religion, a multitude of articles made by that art are required both to adorn the images and the churches.
All this without forgetting that the goldsmiths specialized in this field also find it necessary to create all kinds of articles of great majesty and solemnity so that the processional steps that go out to the street as a sign of faith look simply spectacular.
Hence, in the case of religious goldsmith products such as crowns for virgins, candlesticks, powers for images of Christ, crosses, swabs, lanterns, poles, banners or poles for palliums stand out.
It should also be noted that this artistic branch becomes key for Catholic parishes since they require a series of utensils made by them to be able to officiate the corresponding liturgical acts. Specifically, these items can be found, in silver or gold, from incense burners to candlesticks going through shells for baptism or chalices.
The history of goldsmithing is very old. Already in prehistory (Neolithic period), human beings made pieces of copper, bronze, silver and gold, such as vessels, statues and necklaces. The first ornamentations were geometric, with straight lines, circles, and a few curves.
The earliest recorded gold worked is found in the Varna Necropolis, an archaeological site in Bulgaria dating from the Chalcolithic period (between 4,600 BC - 4,200 BC). Almost a thousand gold objects such as scepters, bracelets and necklaces were found there.
Over time, various goldsmithing techniques were developed. The process began to include raw material melting, hammering, beating, cutting, finishing, and plating or gilding. The assemblies, for their part, could be made by means of different types of welding (by diffusion in solid phase, with contribution of welding alloy, etc.).
Today's goldsmiths use numerous decorative techniques to create true works of art. The inlay (with punches that allow bending the metal), the pattern (pressures hammer to play a relief pattern), the stippling (with a chisel), the granulate (with gold granules soldiers) and the watermark (using wires welded to a base sheet) are some of them.