About Mokume-gane
Mokume-gane means literally "wood-grain metal" and was originally an ancient (17th century) Japanese forging technique with a strong organic character. A block Mokume-gane consists of several layers (9-20) bullion. The patterns that arise during the process are similar to wood grain and give an impression of a natural metal. With this technique Birgit creates unique jewelry, Mokume-gane rings, buckles and decorative objects. This results unique jewelry, mokume-gane rings, buckle and objects.
Look at the mokume-gane jewelry and objects from Doesdesign.
Look here a movie on youtube, how Mokume-gane weddingrings arise.
History of Mokume-gane.
The origin of the technique lies in the Mokume-gane weapon smith in ancient Japan. A landowner, Samurai named, was like his colleagues in the west, the knight, responsible for his subjects. His sword was not only a feared weapon but also the symbol of fidelity to his promises, his sense of duty and justice and especially his personal honour. It was a guarantee for the safety of those he served to protect and almost a sacred object for the owner.
An instrument with such an emotional value could not only of gray steel, but also included the importance and richness of its owner to reflect. The old weapon smiths began parts of the sword and scabbard to decorate with special, precious metal ornaments. It began with the tsuba particular, the magazine which the sword is stuck artistic editing. The richer the owner, the magazine became more artistic and more expensive the material was. Thus arose the technique Mokume-gane. Later this technique art as bowls, vases and jewelry. Over the centuries, this technique has now been nearly forgotten in Japan rediscovered art form.
The swords and knives were made of damascus steel, origin from mokume-gane. In the ornate sword mountings were also used other techniques, as Inlay of Damascening. Several metal layers, such as gold, platinum, copper, silver, brass or Tombak, temperature and pressure are fused together, called diffusion process. This creates a large block of Mokume-gane containing different metal layers. The block Mokume-gane is then manufacture through processing drilling, milling, filing, and etchings, interspersed with the ever thinner forging of the block Mokume-gane. This causes the surface of the metal patterns. These patterns give the impression of a metal that is naturally created.
Manufacturing and proces of Mokume Gane. A piece of metallurgy!
As the smith each block Mokume-gane by hand thinning to forge, this technique is very labor intensive. Only when the block of two to three millimeters thin forged, it can then be flattened by the roller. The lines and patterns in the surface of the metal have a strong organic character. Oxidizing the metal by treating with a special kind of stain creates more contrast between the different metals.
The basis of Mokume gane is formed by press and heating the thin sheet (0.6-1mm). The metals have a similar metallurgical processing and technical properties such as tensile and elongation properties. The thin metal plate are stacked so that there are clear contrasts in color (see photo) and what matters is the metal with the lowest melting point is alternately between the rest of the metal plate piled so that it functions as a kind of solder. The individual must be absolutely flat metal plates with sanded and free of surface oxidation. The plates are stacked between a steel clamp tightened, and together form a block. By pressure and temperature (700-1000 degrees Celcius depends of wich metal is used), there is an exchange of molecules to the metal contact surface, it forms a new molecular crystal, a massive block. Characteristic of the welproces / diffusion process is the fact that melting occurs at a temperature, not lower than the melting point of the metals / alloys that are used. The typical patterns produced by various methods such as milling, chipping, drilling, punching and twisting techniques, engraving and etched. Time and again by forging the block Mokume thinner, the metal layers below arise to the surface.
More photos of this proces see http://www.metalartcreations.nl/fotos/fotos-workshopmokume.html
Birgit Doesborg organized two times a year workshops mokume-gane. These only can be follow with experience from a goldsmith.
More mokume-gane artists see:
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