PURPOSE: To obtain a thin metal article having a fine pattern transferred from the surface of a combustible substrate by spreading a plastic compsn. contg. noble metal powder on the surface of the substrate, sintering the resulting formed body in a solid phase, burning and removing the substrate.

CONSTITUTION: A plastic compsn. such as a mixture of a water-soluble cellulose binder with a surfactant, fat and oil is mixed with noble metal powder to obtain a plastic compsn. for forming. A substrate made of a combustible material and having a desired pattern is prepd. The plastic compsn. for forming is spread thinly on the surface of the substrate to form a formed body having a desired shape. This formed body is sintered in a solid phase and the substrate is burned to obtain a metal article.