Goldsmith’s workbench

A goldsmith’s workbench was one of the basic elements of equipment in an old goldsmith’s workshop. The majority of tasks during the crafting of a goldsmithery item was performed at this bench. The massive wooden top, resting on solid legs or narrow chests of drawers, had one or more semicircular cut-outs with a “fajnagel” mounted in the middle, serving the goldsmith as support during many different works. Hanging underneath the cut-out in the workbench was a leather bench apron, which would rest in the goldsmith’s lap during work. This way, precious metal shavings would not fall to the floor and could be remelted and reused after being taken out of the bench apron.