Mokume-gane (木目金 Mokumegane)
Is a Japanese metalworking procedure which produces a mixed-metal laminate with distinctive layered patterns. Mokume gane translates closely to "wood grain metal" or "wood eye metal", describing the way the metal takes on the appearance of natural wood grain. Mokume-gane has been used to create many artistic objects. Though the technique was first created to decorate swords, the art survives today mostly in the form of jewelry and hollow-ware
Mokume-gane is a product made by fusing several layers of different colored precious metals together to form a sandwich of alloys called a billet. The billet is then manipulated in such a way that a pattern resembling wood grain emerges over the surface.
With Metal Clay
Traditional Mokume-Gane is a long process using heavy equipment with much preparation of the metal... cutting, decreasing, drying, pressuring with plates and blots, repeated firing by torch or kiln, hammering, drilling, forging rolling, polishing, and after hopefully two days of work, you arrive with a sheet of metal to start your jewelry creation. Using metal clay you can design, create, dry, refine, fire, finish and polish in the metal state and wear it all in one day. This new technique, with the flexibility of silver and copper metal clays, will open doors to many new possibilities.
Is a Japanese metalworking procedure which produces a mixed-metal laminate with distinctive layered patterns. Mokume gane translates closely to "wood grain metal" or "wood eye metal", describing the way the metal takes on the appearance of natural wood grain. Mokume-gane has been used to create many artistic objects. Though the technique was first created to decorate swords, the art survives today mostly in the form of jewelry and hollow-ware
Mokume-gane is a product made by fusing several layers of different colored precious metals together to form a sandwich of alloys called a billet. The billet is then manipulated in such a way that a pattern resembling wood grain emerges over the surface.
With Metal Clay
Traditional Mokume-Gane is a long process using heavy equipment with much preparation of the metal... cutting, decreasing, drying, pressuring with plates and blots, repeated firing by torch or kiln, hammering, drilling, forging rolling, polishing, and after hopefully two days of work, you arrive with a sheet of metal to start your jewelry creation. Using metal clay you can design, create, dry, refine, fire, finish and polish in the metal state and wear it all in one day. This new technique, with the flexibility of silver and copper metal clays, will open doors to many new possibilities.