This paper will document the realization of a micro-alloyed gold claret jug produced by leading British-based master goldsmith Martyn Pugh. This project encapsulated all aspects of creativity, from initial design and research to the innovation and skill of the many craftspeople involved in turning the impossible into reality.The original request for a pure gold claret jug was initially and immediately dismissed by Pugh as technically unrealistic-pure gold being too soft. Several years latter an off-hand comment to Pugh initiated a serious investigation of the current metallurgical developments in high karat gold alloys, providing tangible evidence to take the project forward. Upon further investigation and discussion with metallurgists, a list of potential "pure" gold alloys was identified. How would a "pure" gold alloy perform under workshop conditions, and how would it respond to the fabrication techniques required to produce a claret jug on this scale (360mm/14 inches in height)?Pugh consulted a number of leading specialists and brought together a skilled team willing to impart their knowledge and share the challenges of such a project. It involved a wide spectrum of knowledge, the convergence of new and old techniques, and the reassessment of workshop practice with respect to the characteristics of an unfamiliar material. All was governed by the single-mindedness of Pugh to find solutions. With the help of many knowledgeable individuals, this claret jug was completed in the spring of 2009, nearly ten years after the comment, "I'd like one of those in 24K".

Author: Dr. Ann-Marie Carey