Chasing is the art of breathing new life into every detail of a motif. Through a subtle interplay of light or matt chisels (characteristic of each period), the chiseller redefines contours and affirms motifs. This is what allows the light to catch and makes the motifs so fascinating.
This technique, which we call re-melting or tracé mati, consists of reworking a melted object to give it back its grain and its material effects using chisels, set in motion by the action of a hammer, without removing any material. The chisels, hand-forged from steel, are part of the chiseller's personal toolkit. They each have a very specific function, to carry out the modelling of the seams after trimming (sharp and matt tools) and the surface aspect with the accentuation of the hollow patterns (clear tools, curved and straight tracers).
The realization of models, whether they are of style or creation, is often entrusted to a chiseller. The professional qualities of the chiseller make him the designated operator since he must have knowledge of art history, drawing, modelling and have studied the ornaments forming all or part of an object.
