Toshi's Metal Art Works

Mokumegane #20 B

2007-12-24T22:36:00.001-08:00

Mokumegane #20

2007-12-23T12:41:00.000-08:00

Title: Mokumemame #02

Materials: silver, copper, shakudo - rokusho finished
Dimensions: 3" x 6 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Year made: 2007

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Dragonfly (Breeze)

2007-11-03T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a part of the art piece "Breeze" (see below).

Techniques used in "Breeze": forging, raising, soldering, casting & fabrication

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Breeze

2007-11-01T00:28:00.001-07:00

gold, silver, copper and bronze
Size: H42" x W12 1/2" x D7 1/2"
2007

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Gin Doh Mame

2007-09-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

Gin Doh Mame : silver and copper multi-layered (brooch)
Size : 1 1/4" x 1 3/4" x 1"
2007

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Mokume Mayu #2 & #3

2007-09-03T11:41:00.001-07:00

mokumemayu #2 & #3 (beads)
#2 silver, copper and kuroshibuichi - Rokusho finished (left)
#3 silver, copper and shakudo - Rokusho finished (right)
size: 1 3/8"L x 3/4" dia.
2007

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Mokume Mayu #1

2007-09-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mokumemayu #1 (bead)
silver, copper and shibuichi - Rokusho finished
size: 1 3/8"L x 3/4" dia.
2007

*mayu means "cocoon" in Japanese.

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Mokume Snail

2007-07-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

size: 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" x H 1 1/2"
Forged wrought iron, etching
This snail was made of multi layered iron like "mokumegane" or "damascus".

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Mokumegane #19

2006-10-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Mokume Mame

This is the finished piece of mokume gane, composed of silver, copper and shakudo.
Rokusho (Japanese patina) solution treated (except silver beans).

size: 4" x 3 3/8" x H 4 1/2"

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Mokumegane #18

2006-10-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Silver on silver mokume gane "beans" were set into the mokume gane hull.

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Mokumegane #17

2006-10-17T22:23:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane hull and stems were soldered together.
Three different patterns are in one piece.

Composed of silver, copper and shakudo.

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Mokumegane #16

2006-10-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

The mokume gane sheet appeared in #14, a sheet looks like a leaf turned into a hull above.
The hull was treated in ROKUSHO(Japanese patina) solution.

I was trying to take photos of the process as many as possible, however, when I 'm working on the piece, I concentrate on making it and I forget about photoshooting.

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Mokumegane #15

2006-10-10T23:40:00.000-07:00

Silver on silver mokume gane sheet has changed its shape like this.

Mokume pattern on beans are very subtle, yet still visible.
Beans are pretty much a life size.

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Mokumegane Billet Making

2006-10-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane Billet Making

This is the billet after bonding. (Composed of silver, copper and shakudo)
Although I used the forge bonding method, oxidation seems mininum.

I put a thicker silver sheet at one end and the rest are all the same in thickness.

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Mokumegane #14

2006-09-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane in process

A line was grooved on the cut out mokume gane sheet with a punch.

TOP: front view BOTTOM: back view

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Mokumegane #13

2006-09-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane in process

This sheet is, the same one as appeared in Mokumegane Patterning #4, composed of silver, copper and shakudo.
It was cut out for ??? (You will see the completed piece photo in the near future.)

Fire scale made the sheet unclean looking.

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Mokumegane Patterning #4

2006-09-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

This Mokume Gane sheet was flattened out after second-time drilling.
The first drill marks were deformed and I found them very interesting.

Size: approx. 105 mm x 55 mm x T:2 mm

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Mokumegane Patterning #3

2006-09-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

This Mokume Gane sheet is the same one as yesterday.
It was drilled rain drop pattern for the second time and then annealed.

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Mokumegane Patterning #2

2006-09-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is the same Mokume Gane sheet which appeared yesterday,
after hand hammered.

It was elongated to . . .

84mm x 47mm x T:4mm (originally 68mm x 35mm x T: 6mm)

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Mokumegane Patterning #1

2006-09-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane billet composed of silver, copper and shakudo.

size: approx. 68mm x 35mm x T6mm

Using a drill bit, it was engraved about 1/3 of the thickness.

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Mokumegane #12

2006-09-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane in process (rain drop pattern)

This is the same piece, GIN'NEZU - silver on silver- billet after pickling.
The materials are all silver, yet you can tell the color difference in it.

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Mokumegane #11

2006-09-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane in process (rain drop pattern)

The silver on silver billet "GIN'NEZU" on Sept. 10 (mokumegane #11) of my blog became a thinner sheet like this.

Thickness became 9mm to 1.5mm while drilling - annealing - hammering.

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Mokumegane #10

2006-09-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane trial billet

GIN'NEZU (silver)

I checked the edge to see the layer after bonding. I will report the process and the outcome later.

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Mokumegane - Learn from failure #2

2006-09-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane test billet

Composed of silver, copper and shibuichi

On the previous page, you saw the cracked edges.
I trimmed off those edges about 1/8" or so.
Well, this is the SAME billet after the treatment.

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Mokumegane - Learn from failure

2006-09-03T23:33:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane test billet

Composed of silver, copper and shibuichi

This billet is one of the failure pieces.
Bonding temperature was appropriate, however, after taking the billet out of the forge, I didn’t wait long enough to put pressure on.

It caused cracks on the edge. Although, most part of the billet can be used, this is not desirable.

I will report the outcome later.

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MBMAG Art Show -Trapped & Pearl -

2006-09-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

The Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild
presents

"TRAPPED & Essential Element VII - Pearl"

September 8 - October 19, 2006

Opening Reception: Friday, September 8, 2006 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Pacific Grove Art Center
568 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Phone: 831-375-2208
Hours: WED - SAT 12:00 - 5:00 / SUN 1:00 - 4:00

My mokume gane art piece will be at Pacific Grove Art Center during this show.
Please drop in and see art pieces when you happen to come this way.

Photo: Sand Trap by E.B. (friend artist)

Mokumegane in Kanji

2006-09-02T01:34:00.000-07:00

"Mokumegane" or "Mokume Gane" was named so, because its pattern looks like mokume - "wood grain".

"Gane" means "metal" in general and, if it used as a single character, it means "gold".

Some people use different kanji (Chinese) characters (above right) , especially in Akita Prefecture which is the birth place of mokume gane.
(In this case, "gane" means "copper")

Mokumegane Making #3

2006-09-01T00:12:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane Making Tools

These are some of my tools for mokume gane (pattern) making.
Small craft hammers and Japanese style chisels.

Mokumegane Making #2

2006-08-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

After sheets are bonded, next step is to flatten out.

I used power hammer to do this job for the billet shown above.
For smaller billets, this kind of hammer is very useful.
I made this hammer head (weight: approx. 2.7 lb.)　referring to Japanese traditional hammer called "NOBE-ZUCHI".

"NOBE-ZUCHI" is a special kind of hammer for flattening metals.

The gorgeous looking handle was made by my friend E***.

Mokumegane Making #1

2006-08-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane billet making process

This photo shows silver and copper sheets.
I sometimes use shakudo, shibuichi or kuromido in between.

The plates become red hot in the forge.

The billet was made successfully!

size: approx. 3" x 3"

Mokumegane #09

2006-08-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane study piece #09 (This piece is still in progress.)

Composed of copper and brass (liner: silver)

Size: approx. 2 1/4" dia. H: 2"

Shibuichi - Japanese Traditional Alloy

2006-08-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

Shi-bu-ichi is one of Japanese traditional alloy.
Literally, it means 1/4 (one fourth, quarter)

shi - means "four", bu - means "fraction" and ichi- means "one"

In old days, this alloy was containing around 25% silver, and that's why it was named "shibuichi", I suppose.

There are other kind of shibuichi called "gyaku-shibuichi" (reverse ratio of silver/copper) and "kuro-shibuichi" (contains more silver).

Shibuichi

2006-08-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

"Shibuichi" is sometimes used in mokume gane billet.
It's very hard and yet malleable longer than other metals after annealing.

This photo was taken right after pickling.

dia. approx. 3"

Mokumegane #08

2006-08-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

This is a mokume gane process photo.

While working on a mokume gane billet, the surface develops oxidation. (becomes black)

After pickling, it gets clean and copper part turns beautiful salmon pink.
Not so many people have a chance to see the process of Mokume Gane making like this,
so, I’d like to share it with you.

Shakudo - Japanese Traditional Alloy

2006-08-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

*Shakudo - Japanese tradiotional alloy which contains
3% to 5% of gold.

Literally, "Shaku" means red and "Do" means copper.

Sometimes it's a "shop secret" how much and
what they mix in.

Among Japanese metal craftsmen,
3% gold-shakudo is called "Sambu-sashi" and
5% gold-shakudo is called "Gobu-zashi".

These are the most common shakudo in Japan.
The alloy contains more gold has different names, not shakudo.
For example, 15% gold is called "murasaki-gane".

"murasaki" means purple and "gane" means metal.

Mokumegane #07

2006-08-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane Study pieces #07

Composed of silver, copper and shakudo

Size: approx. 1 3/4" x 1/4" x H1/4"

Both sides have similar patterns.

Mokumegane #06

2006-08-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane study pieces #06

Composed of silver and copper

square: approx. 1" x 3/4"
triangle: approx. 1 3/4" x 1/2"

The pattern on the triangular one was not developed as I expected.

Mokumegane #05

2006-08-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

Mokume gane study pieces #05

Composed of silver and copper

L: approx. 8 1/4"

Mokumegane #04

2006-08-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

Mokume gane study pieces

"Twisted"

Composed of fine silver, copper and shakudo

Mokumegane #03

2006-08-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

Mokume Gane

"The Galaxy"

convexed disc
composed of silver and copper

diameter: approx. 8 1/2"

Mokumegane #02

2006-08-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

Mokume gane study piece #02

Composed of copper & silver

w: approx. 3/8"

Mokumegane #01

2006-08-18T22:39:00.000-07:00

This is just the study piece of mokume gane.

Composed of fine silver, copper and shakudo
(before patination)

size: approx. 1 1/4 x 2 3/8

Santa Cruz Open Studio 2006

2006-08-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

Three Metal Artists in One Studio!

Paul, Jim and I are hosting Open Studio 2006 in October.

#278, #279 & #280

Address: 237 Kearney St., Watsonville CA 95076

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Dynamic woven rings, fountains, adorable tiny animals, mokumegane, religious jewelry and much more are waiting for you.

Please come and visit us!

Current Show "Sculpture Is"

2006-07-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

For more information: Please visit http://www.sierraazul.com/sculptureis.html

My fellow artist's large art pieces are there.
Mines are small enough to be displayed in the gallery, so you can meet them at;

Pajaro Valley Arts Council gallery
37 Sudden Street
Watsonville, CA 95076
831-722-3062

Sleeping Cat #1

2006-06-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

It's a small box. Sleeping cat works as a lid.

medium: silver
size: 2" x 1 1/4" x H1 1/2"

door

2006-06-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

scrolls #2

2006-06-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

Making scrolls #1

2006-04-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

Recently, I'm working on the ornamental iron project.
I make scrolls by authentic way like this.

wax casting is fun!

2006-03-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

I've been enjoying lost wax casting.
Here are some examples of how they are made.

(sterling silver)

slow life 03

2006-03-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

media: pure silver
size: 4 1/4" x 3" x 2 1/2"H
hammer raising, cast

incense holder

2006-03-01T00:19:00.000-08:00

media: copper (patina)
size: 10 3/4" x 2 3/8" x 7/8"

slow life 02

2006-02-25T00:53:00.000-08:00

media: bronze & silver
size: 142mm x 50mm x H40mm

Hammers

2006-02-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

Good tools are hard to find.

So, I make almost all my tools, such as hammers and stakes etc., by myself.

These are the toy hammers I made for my carpenter friend, for my shoemaker friend, and for myself.

YES. They are small and you can even wear them.

The material is the same as mokumegane snail.

pea pod 02

2006-02-22T18:40:00.000-08:00

media: copper
size: 8 3/4" x 3" x H2" (Thickness of the pod part: 1 1/8")

process of pea pod 01

2006-02-20T23:19:00.000-08:00

This is the process of making pea pod. You can see some tools I use in the back.

pea pod 01

2006-02-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

media: copper & silver
size: 4 3/4" x 2 3/8" x H4 5/8"

egg cup

2006-02-17T22:15:00.000-08:00

media: pure silver

slow life 01

2006-02-17T00:36:00.000-08:00

calligraphy brush holder

media: silver & copper
size: 4 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/4"

You can see a small silver snail on the left.

bean sprout

2006-02-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

media: silver & copper
size: 1 1/4" x 2" x 2"

An apple a day

2006-02-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

media: copper
size: 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" x 4"
year: 2004

This apple was made by using "hammer raising" technique.
Actually it was made from two pieces.