The bowl has a rounded bottom and now I need to create a foot by carefully flattening the bottom. I scribe a line with a set of dividers that will define the diameter of the base. A pencil mark would be two broad and hard to see. I now begin pushing the metal inscribed within the line and slowly force it to compress inward.

        I take this time to mark the bowl with my mark and the year it was made. Note the kernel is kept visible just above the 04.

        The hammering continues on the base until it no longer is convex and begins to form a concavity that allows the bowl to ride on the perimeter of the base. The final planishing now begins over the entire surface of the bowl. I have not annealed it since our last raising and the planishing is hardening the metal and will make it tougher and more durable.

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