equirhodont,,, that's all it does is make a bunch at a time. But doesn't mean its easier.
What is really easier? lets say after you have a mold for casting,,,and after you have the die for pressing.
*For the cast,,you first have to heat up wax and pour in to a mold.
When dry/done you open and wax weld the model ring to the tree.
It then gets sealed in to a special tube and a refractory plaster is poured in and let harden.
Then you do a burn out,,heat to let the wax melt and run out.
Then you can pour in your molten metal silver, gold etc. Let cool.
Then you cut the piece off and make repairs, clean up the piece a bit,engrave etc.
*Now for the pressing-
You take a pre cut piece of silver and secure in to a press.
You chock up your die.
You press a button.
You then clean up the ring a bit, engrave, round, solder on skull.
SO,,what is easier.?
OK, some questions if you think its cast. Your photo of the tree. It is obvious each size ring would need its own mold. So why is there a seam and separate skull? Why not just one piece?
Also,,think of this:
You are the Gold/Silversmith to the NSDAP. You work is some of the best out there. Everything perfect and beautiful.. Why would you let one of your most prized pieces go out with a defect on it? A flaw? It would be SO simple to fix it on the wax model,,seconds..
I've asked a bunch of old jewelers here in NYCs jewelry district and all gave me the same answer. That during that period in time it was easier,faster,cheaper to press then cast.
