Editing Repoussé and chasing (section)

{{Short description|Metalworking technique}}
{{redirect|Chasing|other uses|Chasing (disambiguation)}}
{{for|the 2011 British short movie|Chased (film)}}
[[File:Mildenhall treasure great dish british museum.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|The Great Dish, or Great Plate of Bacchus, from the Roman [[Mildenhall Treasure]]]]
[[File:Museo del Oro Tierradentro golden face.jpg|thumb|Golden mask from [[Colombia]], at the [[Museo del Oro]]. Possibly from the [[Calima culture]] (100&ndash;500 AD)]]
[[File:King Tut Burial Mask.jpg|thumb|[[mask of Tutankhamun|Golden mask]] of [[Tutankhamun]]'s mummy]]

'''''Repoussé''''' ({{IPA|fr|ʁəpuse|lang|fr-repoussé.ogg}}) or '''''repoussage''''' ({{IPA|fr|ʁəpusaʒ||fr-repoussage.ogg}}) is a [[metalworking]] technique in which a [[malleable]] metal is shaped by [[hammer]]ing from the reverse side to create a design in [[low relief]]. '''Chasing''' (French: ''[[:fr:ciselure|ciselure]]'') or '''embossing''' is a similar technique in which the piece is hammered on the front side, sinking the metal. The two techniques are often used in conjunction.

Many metals can be used for chasing and repoussé work, including [[gold]], [[silver]], [[copper]], and alloys such as [[steel]], [[bronze]], and [[pewter]].

These techniques are very ancient and have been extensively used all over the world, as they require only the simplest tools and materials, and yet allow great diversity of expression.  They are also relatively economical, since there is no loss or waste of metal, which mostly retains its original size and thickness.  Toolmarks are often intentionally left visible in the result.

A few among many famous examples of repoussé and chasing are the prehistoric [[Gundestrup cauldron]], the mask on the mummy of [[Tutankhamun]], the [[body armour]]s of the [[Bronze Age]], the copper ornaments made by the [[Southeastern Ceremonial Complex|Native Americans in the Southeastern United States]], and the [[Statue of Liberty]] in New York City.