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agrafage des feuilles en dent de loup

English translation: possibilities

19:54 Aug 28, 2007
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Mechanics / Mech Engineering / Dinanderie
French term or phrase: agrafage des feuilles en dent de loup
More traditional craftsmen, this time coppersmithing:

Depuis 1886, l’entreprise est spécialisée dans le cuivre, la restauration de pièces anciennes, et l’étain travaillé en feuilles. L’entreprise, qui s’est transmise sur quatre générations, est l’héritière d’un savoir-faire local florissant [...] au XVIIIe siècle.

L’équipement de l’atelier date en grande partie du XIXe siècle [...]

En plus du tour de main, l’usage de procédés traditionnels confère au travail de cette entreprise une dimension vraiment artisanale : traçage, agrafage des feuilles en dent de loup, brasure en poudre à la forge, retreinte au marteau, martelage des finitions, étamage à la main des intérieurs, formage manuel ou par tournage….

Any ideas what "en dent de loup" means here? I have found it as meaning "burnishing" in jewellery making, but am unable to reconcile that with "agrafage" which seems to mean "seaming"...

All help much appreciated!
Dominic Gourd
Local time: 02:55
English translation:possibilities
Explanation:
After looking around a bit, the question I have is whether the 'dent de loup' is maybe about the 'feuilles' rather than the 'agrafage'.

A 'plaque à dent de loup' is a (pastry) sheet shaped in a tooth or 'zig-zag' (as Rachel suggests) form, as seen here: http://www.recette-dessert.com/plaque-dent-loup-k699.htm
The same thing in English seems to keep the 'dent de loup' name as is, as seen here: http://www.pastrychef.com/DENT-DE-LOUP-FORM_p_12-1219.html

Could be a red herring, but might be a shape to look out for if you start trawling English-language artisanal coppersmith sites for clues...
Selected response from:

Melissa McMahon
Australia
Local time: 15:55
Grading comment
Thanks Melissa. And thanks to Rachel too! Still not sure what this is actually called in English, but I went with zig zag in the end, hazarding "zig-zag leaf seaming" for want of anything better! Thanks for your input!
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
1 +1possibilities
Melissa McMahon
2cut-card work
Emma Paulay


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +1
possibilities


Explanation:
After looking around a bit, the question I have is whether the 'dent de loup' is maybe about the 'feuilles' rather than the 'agrafage'.

A 'plaque à dent de loup' is a (pastry) sheet shaped in a tooth or 'zig-zag' (as Rachel suggests) form, as seen here: http://www.recette-dessert.com/plaque-dent-loup-k699.htm
The same thing in English seems to keep the 'dent de loup' name as is, as seen here: http://www.pastrychef.com/DENT-DE-LOUP-FORM_p_12-1219.html

Could be a red herring, but might be a shape to look out for if you start trawling English-language artisanal coppersmith sites for clues...

Melissa McMahon
Australia
Local time: 15:55
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 1
Grading comment
Thanks Melissa. And thanks to Rachel too! Still not sure what this is actually called in English, but I went with zig zag in the end, hazarding "zig-zag leaf seaming" for want of anything better! Thanks for your input!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Conor McAuley: Sound logic. Try Google Images for "dents de loups" for confirmation. The translation units are "[agrafage] [des] [(feuilles) en dent de loup]"
10 hrs
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1 day 10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
cut-card work


Explanation:
I'm not sure, but there are quite a few references to this technique - which seems to fit the FR description.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9028325/cut-card-work


    Reference: http://www.beerstein.net/articles/bsj-3g.htm
    Reference: http://www.oldandsold.com/articles02/metals-c.shtml
Emma Paulay
France
Local time: 07:55
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 3
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your help, Emma. Cut-card work appears to be used only in the context of silver.

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