How to Hire a Calligraphy Engraver (a Calligrapher that Engraves
I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately…
Is it safe to say that the holiday season is upon us? It very well could be for the early shoppers in our midst.
I’ve always envied the kind of people that shop all year round and have no worries when the holiday season arrives. I’m the exact opposite…waiting until the last minute only to absorb every stressor the holiday has to offer…often either stretching a dollar ‘til it hollers to get or make something meaningful for everyone on my list-or resigning in defeat, buying up every gift card I can find to assuage my guilt…you know, for not starting earlier.
Early shoppers, I salute you. 🖖🏾
Early or not, folks are looking for that perfect something to gift for the holidays…and now that it’s getting around in my area that I do calligraphy engraving, I’m getting more than a few questions about it. I thought it might be helpful to share some of the answers here this week.
First off…technically, a calligraphy engraver usually refers to the drill or device used to perform the engraving. But, the title ‘How to Hire a Calligrapher for Calligraphy Engraving’ just didn’t sound as good to me. 🤷🏾♀️
Carrying on…
What is calligraphy engraving?
For our purposes, we are referring to freehand calligraphy engraving-a calligraphy service done by hand with a drill into a surface like glass. It often has a more fluid and organic look than what one might expect with engraving done by a machine. But, the overall purpose of calligraphy engraving is to personalize an item to make it more unique.
What can you engrave?
There are a wide variety of surfaces that can be engraved with calligraphy engraving. The most common surfaces are
glass
metal
stone
some leathers
some woods
It’s very rare that I see plastics engraved with freehand calligraphy. But, it definitely can be done.
Some of the more common items to personalize are:
water bottles
fragrance bottles
wine bottles (non-pressurized bottled beverages)
champagne flutes
candles
vases
marble or stone coasters
key chains
charcuterie boards
wallets
decanters
whiskey flasks
cutlery
The list really does go on, which makes gifting so much fun!
When should you get calligraphy engraving?
My answer to that is any time you want something personalized!
The lady in the photo below wanted to do something special for a grieving aunt. But she wasn’t sure what that something should be. Once she decided on a bottle of wine, she told me a little more about her dilemma. She wanted the bottle engraved with something uplifting and encouraging, but didn’t know exactly what it should say. I made a simple suggestion…and she really liked it! I engraved the heartfelt sentiment and bouquet of flowers you see below.
What a beautiful gesture to show her aunt how much she means to her family.
A little personalization goes a long way! 🥰
Y’all know I love learning new things. Like, how old were you when you learned that the phrase, “Progress not perfection” has special meaning for those in AA recovery groups?
Its definitely a new twist on a phrase I’ve always loved and the fact that the engraving is going to someone tackling their addictions just makes me love it more. 🥰 And it’s not even mine!
Of course, the occasion need not be nearly as deep.
While calligraphy engraving is often performed for celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and the like, many items are just engraved as personal treat or just to brighten up your day. As luxurious as it is, I still get a kick out of seeing my name on my favorite tumbler every morning with my morning coffee.
In-Studio or On-Site?
Ultimately, the answer to when you approach a calligrapher for this service could also depend on whether you are purchasing as an individual or a corporate entity/business owner.
Individuals may want a one-off (or just a few personalized items)to gift while businesses may want a number of items engraved for them as a special touch for their VIPs or to promote their brand or a sale.
For instance, at my job, when one of my co-workers wants something on the spot, of course that can be arranged. I consider that engraving “in-studio” where the payment is made directly to me. I may engrave the item at my home or wherever we meet up…I’ll even, at times, engrave on my lunch break.
However, sometimes, depending on what they want, it may be more cost-effective for them to purchase an item at a location where I’ve already been hired and get the engraving as a complimentary service, “on-site”.
For businesses, it works similarly, but usually on a much larger scale. A calligrapher can engrave items for the VIPs of a brand in-studio for bulk orders…Or, they may be hired to do an event on-site for that brand or business to attract more clients or shoppers.
How much does it cost?
Calligraphy engraving is part of the luxury service industry and every calligrapher has their own rate. Many can quote a price for in-studio work, per item or hour with more information about the project. On the other hand, the average cost to hire a calligrapher to engrave on-site sits around $150-$250/hour.
Prices can often vary based on the complexity of what is to be engraved. For instance, compare engraving that is restricted to calligraphy versus engraving that combines calligraphy and florals.
You can see my own price list here.
What are the needs of your project?
In fact, many times, on-site can be restricted to simple calligraphy (names or a few words) since the goal is usually to serve as many clients in the time given. If there is down time, I will add a little more finesse and flourish to the engraving with florals or small embellishments, if I can fit it in. But, I find speed is usually more important in on-site events.
I know, for me, any arrangement other than a simple floral can take me anywhere from 10-20 minutes to plan out and engrave. That usually won’t work for on-site work where shoppers want their items back within 10-20 minutes and there’s already a bottle or two ahead of them. In those cases, I have learned to stick to leaves and simple garlands if there are to be any florals.
On the other hand, with an in-studio service, it’s more likely to be able to request longer phrases, quotes, poems, and more intricate designs. However, if more time will be spent on a larger floral design in-studio, the intricacy can demand an up-charge since it’s more involved than engraving a simple name. Likewise for the measuring and layout process that goes into engraving long quotes, poems, vows, etc.
If your looking to have much more than a name engraved, you should definitely consider this aspect for your project.
Where can I find a calligrapher to engrave for me?
Well, if you’ve gotten this far, we’re almost friends already. Feel free to reach out!
But, you may also want to acquaint yourself with sites like Nibtique and The Event Artists Collective. These are websites for finding calligraphers with a wide range of skills all over the globe. In many instances, you can see their portfolio and their location. Some even include a price list as well. FYI, here’s mine. 😉
What if I want to DIY it?
Good question! If you’re feeling adventurous and are thinking about engraving on your own, it most certainly can be done. There are all types of calligraphy classes to learn the basics of most any script. There is also a wide variety of drills available for engraving as well as online courses should you desire to educate yourself. Check out my resource page to see those courses and supplies that I can recommend from personal experience and use.
Once you’re ready to jump down the rabbit hole that is calligraphy engraving (ask me how I know 😂), I would start with researching some of the engraving courses available online. I have taken a few and they often have a list of recommended supplies and materials that will get you started in the right direction. There are also newer courses available since I began that you may find value in as well.
Go get started!
In Conclusion…
Calligraphy engraving is a wonderful way to add a special touch to any item you want.
If you need any item(s) personalized and have an idea of what you want, reach out to a calligrapher you’re interested in to see if they can provide this service to you…Or, call your favorite place to shop to find out the next time there will be calligraphy engraving services provided on-site.
Either way, I just know you will love it! ❤️
