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Memoria Technica
heritage | creation | education

Welcome to Issue No. 7

This newsletter includes updates about class offerings, horological lectures, featured conservation projects, new-making whimsies, and other workshop news.

You're on this list because you've subscribed to my blog, taken a class, attended a lecture, or inquired about classes, products, or services. Please unsubscribe at the bottom of this letter if you do not wish to receive these occasional updates in your inbox.

Yours sincerely,
Brittany Nicole Cox

Greetings fellow friends, kind humans, & horological craft enthusiasts!

I hope you all have faired well over the last two strange years. I'm sending my best wishes your way.

To those of you who reached out and supported the workshop by signing up for a one-on-one class or purchased merchandise and whirligigs, thank you so much! I couldn't do all of this without all of you <3

Now on with the newsletter !

The New Workshop

            
With the pandemic came so much change.

I've been a bit quiet in my communication, as I've been busy dealing with some big changes myself. The workshop moved to a beautiful spot on Vashon island in October of last year, just a short ferry ride from Seattle. It's been a huge process, but the shop is nearly finished! There are hiking trails, beaches, and farm stands. We even have a small fruit tree orchard at the shop with apples, cherries, and plums in the summer.

I've been hard at work getting the shop set up to hold regular classes again.

I'm looking forward to hosting you all here soon!

I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
SUMMER CLASSES!

Beginner’s Engine Turning | Brittany Nicole Cox ($650) + $25 materials fee
Limited to 4 Students
Book your dates on the website
9:00am - 5:00pm

This two-day class provides students with a basic understanding of engine turning and simple pattern development. Students leave with a set of 5 brass guilloché medallions with different patterns. More materials are available and are pay as you go. Whether students are looking into watch dials, jewelry, or are just curious about guilloché work in general, this class offers a good foundation and prepares one for Intermediate classes.

Engine Turning II | Tutor: Brittany Nicole Cox ($650) + $25 materials fee | Limited to 4 Students | Pre-requisite Beginner’s Engine Turning Book your dates on the website
9:00am - 5:00pm

This two-day class is designed for those with a rudimentary knowledge of engine turning or guilloché work. Learn how to integrate divergent patterns, work with borders, layout work that requires more than one center, dial-in surfaces, and other advanced concepts. Whether you are interested in making watch dials, jewelry, pens, or decorative arts this class will further your understanding and skills. The projects will vary depending on the student's interest. This class allows the use of an elliptical chuck and other attachments. Each student will leave with at least one completed project, such as a writing pen or ring. Different materials are available and are pay as you go. This class is taught on two resident Lienhard engines from the Bulova watchmaking factory.

                                CLASS INFO & REGISTRATION
                            

Turning to Borders is back! Class schedule to follow. Here are a couple of photos of what students accomplished in our two-day Fall 2019 class.

Turning to Borders

Intermediate | Tutors: Brittany Nicole Cox + Henri Ruut ($900) + $65 materials fee | Limited to 6 Students | Pre-requisite Beginner's Engine Turning | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

In this special two-day class with Master Goldsmith Henri Ruut, you will learn techniques used in the manufacture of watch dials, cases, and escutcheons through the use of stops and cutting to borders. Students will use both the straightline machine and rose engine to cut complex geometric patterns around engraved chapter rings, shields, banners, and other shapes. Students will learn how to create a "field" within their engine turned pieces, as well as the technique of hand and machine trimming. Each student will be supplied with 5 sterling silver discs, 20 gauge in thickness and 1 1/2" in diameter.

                                LEARN MORE HERE
                            

COMING SOON: The Brocading Machine

An extension to our popular Turning to Borders class, this new class will allow students to use a brocading machine to create engine-turned patterns using antique master templates. I was lucky to get a wonderful art-deco and art-nouveau collection with upwards of 15 designs. These will be finished on-site with the help of an expert hand engraver and will use similar techniques as those in Turning to Borders and Advanced Turning.

Memoria Technica Guest Lectures

To those of you who miss the Memoria Technica Lecture Series, I'm giving a few local talks this summer and fall! Details below.

Time in the Limelight

I recently had the privilege of participating in the feature length documentary film Keeper of Time by Michael Culyba and was able to attend the premier in New York.

You can watch the film now HERE

Two of my favorite Roullet & Decamps mechanical polar bear automata make a cameo in the film!

Watch the trailer for Keeper of Time.

Dubai Watch Week

In an unexpected turn of events, I was invited to attend Dubai Watch Week. It was a surreal adventure! The Seddiqi family behind Watch Week sponsored a new film about watchmaking and invited the featured horologists to the event. It was a tremendous experience and I had the privilege of meeting Max Büsser of MB&F and Ludovic Ballouard, both people I admire greatly in the industry. The film Making Time directed by Liz Unna will be shown at Dubai Watch Week in 2023!

And (!) keep an eye out for the October issue of Vanity Fair magazine. The On Time supplement commissioned an essay about my role in these two films!

Cochlea even got to travel to Dubai and was featured in an article on Quill & Pad!
You can read it here.

Seeing Old Friends

While I was in New York I was able to reconnect with my dear friends and mentors Efim Shargorodsky & Phillip Peck. They were a sight for sore eyes after two years of being on opposite coasts. Hopefully I can get them back out here for future classes and talks soon!

Featured Workshop Projects

                                Roullet & Decamps Lion Automaton
                            

This is Rex. He's a pouncing and growling lion automaton made by the Roullet & Decamps firm in Paris. Still in the hands of his original owner, Rex came in for some TLC for the first time in his life. He went to the vet for x-rays and underwent surgery here at Memoria Technica. Stay tuned to the workshop blog for Rex's full story and an interview with his owner.

In the meantime, enjoy some photos from Rex's youth when he found his forever home.

                                Bontems Singing Bird Display
                            

This beautiful Bontems display is another heirloom I had the privilege to work on. It was made for the family who still treasures it in 1904. Over the years it lost its original foliage. See below for before and after photos.

Memoria Technica Staples

We've been busy making a few things for the store! Check out our mid-century inspired earring line and our charity peace medallion! Click on any of the images below to head to the store page.

We also made a very special edition coaster set to raise money for charity. If you're interested in acquiring some, please get in touch.

https://mechanicalcurios.com/product/sterling-silver-guilloche-coasters/

Our Guilloché coaster sets have been a popular item since their introduction in the Spring of 2020! Handmade here at Memoria Technica, these 3" engine-turned sterling silver coasters feature variations of different engine-turned patterns. Cork backed and 18 gauge thick, these coasters make for a stunning gift or a special something for a festive occasion. Toast over New Year champagne, or make that at-home quarantine Happy Hour something to remember!

                                Memoria Technica Enamel Pin Series
                            

The Memoria Technica Enamel Pin Series is alive and well! Although we are almost sold out of every design. I'd love to know if folks are interested in some new pin offerings. I had a lot of fun making these and would be excited to release some new designs! I might have a new rose engine pin in the works 😉

                                Shop Memoria Technica Goodies !
                            

Sacred Geometry - Second Edition

The Sacred Geometry Second Edition!
With 17 new patterns, making a total of 88 unique engine patterns.

Ok, so during the move I found one more box of books! So actually we now have fewer than 50 left. Before the move I was down to what I thought was my last 30 and you guys cleaned me out! If you missed the last set and still want one, snag a book now using the link below.

The front and back cover are pressed with white and silver foil. The binding is spiraled white metal wire, allowing the book to lay flat as you color. The book is printed on 180lb uncoated white paper – so your coloring utensils won’t bleed through and colors stay true. This book is limited to 300 copies and is handmade here in Seattle Washington.

Available Here

TIME FLIES LIKE AN ARROW;

FRUIT FLIES LIKE A BANANA.

Copyright © Memoria Technica + Brittany Nicole Cox

Our mailing address is:
1122 East Pike Street | Box 632 | Seattle, WA 98122

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Memoria Technica · 1122 East Pike Street · Box 632 · SEATTLE, Washington 98122 · USA

Memoria Technica heritage | creation | education