Sword Fabrication for the Crossing Swords Tintype

One of the enjoyable things about the new tintype work is I get to create props for the characters being photographed. Crossing Swords allowed me to fabricate miniature weapons, to the scale of a fetal skeleton. The Hoplite sword was chosen for its graceful leaf shaped blade and Greek origins. Greece, being the cradle of democracy. The props were made during July and August of 2021. It was necessary the miniature swords be constructed like a real sword, using materials that would reflect light realistically.

The blanks were roughed out of sword grade steel, the same as a full sized sword would be made out of.

After the blades were shaped and polished, the tang was rounded and threaded to accept the pommel.

Aluminum was used for the pommels and guards. Here, one of the pommels is finished on my metal lathe right before being cut off.

The hilt wood was glued over the tang, shaped, then painted.

The Infant King Tintype Session

I am fortunate to have an artist like Eric Baillies so close to where I live and so willing to share historical techniques. My first tintype, The Infant King, was shot in Eric’s studio using my camera on May 29-31, 2021. While we experimented with different lenses, my favorite image was made with my Darlot. Eric guided me through all the steps, and the involved hands-on practice cemented that this is what I want to do moving forward as an artist. Making a tintype is akin to alchemy, and I hope to always remember the magic of watching my first image develop.

Focusing on the Infant King sculpture in Eric Baillies’ studio.

The sculpture projected onto the Fresnel lens screen.

Experimenting with Eric Baillies’ CC Harrison lens.

Several variations of the Infant King.

Three day’s work in the drying rack.