Effecting metal crafts

Metalwork is one of the traditional Gypsy occupations. They have been known as metalworkers from the beginning of their history. The art of the forge is an ancient one and the Roma seem to have originally learned this art while in India. They have made nails, tools, arms and cooking equipment. They have been skilled at plating objects with tin, or embossing and engraving jewellery. In Hungary and Romania, they have been gold washers, collecting gold deposits from river bottoms. The Gypsies have been experts in all forms of metalwork, whether as tinsmiths, coppersmiths or silversmiths. Roma have not only been master metalworkers, but they have also shown great ingenuity in devising relatively light equipment, such as forges and hammers. These tools are necessary to their work and are specifically designed to be easily transported. Knife grinding, or blade sharpening, has been a common occupation for many Roma in Europe, and Roma still can be seen sharpening scissors and knives with their portable whet-stone wheels on street corners. Today, the traditional art of metalworking has been transferred to jewellery design, metal container repair, automobile body repair, and welding.