What is Velours de Frappe?
Definition of striking velvet
Velours de frappe is the result of worn corners or deliberate sandblasting.
Un coin, après quelques centaines de frappes, se « ride », développe à sa surface des micro-vagues, conséquences des chocs répétés.
When such a wedge strikes, it deposits tiny asperities on the blank, giving the surface of the part a satin finish. This surface disappears at the slightest touch, making it easy to judge a part's condition.
It is a marker of superior states of preservation, as the striking velvet disappears with contact and handling. The presence of intact striking velvet is therefore synonymous with a perfect state of preservation, with a piece that has never been touched.
