Ammonite pAperweights

Among the smaller items that James sells are hand-forged paperweights. One design features a fossil imprint that was inspired by his time as an apprentice in Dorset. “We used to make ammonites, a really laborious process of tapering a bar and twisting it along its length, which takes about 10 heats, then snailing it up into an ammonite shape.” A square block of steel is heated for approximately five minutes until it is yellow. Then a fossil die is held firmly on the glowing block and hammered 20 times. This impresses the design into the square and causes the sides to bulge. “I like the displacement it makes,” says James. The shape is then welded on the end of a steel rod. Each one lasts for approximately 60 paperweights measuring 60mm along the sides and 25mm thick, before it becomes worn. Each paperweight is then wire brushed and waxed.