Before you start making jewelry, I would like you to explain two important things about Japanese traditional metal work.
One is the tool, a graver, called KEBORI graver. KEBORI means lines just like hairs being engraved so the mark finish by this graver has delicate and thin engraving. There are many kinds of gravers but this graver is very importantly used for beginners in order to practice how to make something but also professionals use this when starting and finishing off. Both the carved mark finish and the works of art itself by means of this tool are made individual impression by each artist. It is profoundly interesting tool.
This technique is already existed in ancient Roman period as you see the ancient roman mirror in history.
Human’s thoughts never changed from ancient time to the present that women are pursuing their beauty and men think to try to make women who is your girlfriend or wife pleased and also people generously inquire and investigate things related to war. That is, I think various technique and culture are the reflection of human’s thoughts and philosophy.
Back to subject but, it is a technique is very small graver but will become an edged tool by hardening (by blow torch / burner). Therefore there were wars of aggression in ancient time for the sake of acquiring its knowledge and technique. Actually making edged tools such as knives were developed for the first time in the Middle East.
In Japanese history, edged tools for killing men already existed in Jomon period, in about from 145 BC to 10 BC (about from 16 thousand 5 hundred years to 3 thousand years ago) but the technique of making the tools by using colored alloy (mixed different kinds of metals) originally developed in Muromachi period, in about from 14C to 16C, that is, the technique being used by Mokume Gane, which is another important thing about Japanese traditional metal work.
Mokume means the grain of the wood in Japanese and the patterns of the colored alloy look like the grain of wood which is named after.
Then the technique of metal engraving as decorative works of art especially developed in Japanese way in Edo period, in about from 17C to 19C, because there is historical background of which Japanese isolation policy (prohibited to interexchange with other country ) and therefore wars seldom happened at that time.
Actually I have been to Turkey in 2006 and remember that I was so moved and excited to feel that Metallurgy (study about metals) came from Middle East, Iran, China, Korea and up to Japan along the Silk Road (Route) when I walked down the winding path in the depths of the mountains on the Silk Road. That is why I would like to say “Metal Road (Route)” instead of the Silk Road.
I also got the impression of Turkey, which was dried weather and surrounded by stones. I saw historical architectures which was probably built in BC and very surprised to see there were still caravansaries (for caravans) every 10km (about 6miles). I think jewelry was appreciated to trade because it is not only small, light and easy to bring but also highly profitable. I saw many antique metal works of art at a bazaar (a market place) as well.
It is my pleasure to come here to study Japanese metal work technique which has been inherited and influenced by the Middle East in our history.
I would like to talk about gem stones. Gem stones are rarely produced in Japan, therefore, making jewelry by not using gems but using metals in order to make them attractive developed here in Japan.
Ginza literally means ‘The place where ‘Silver’ resides. It is the place where they used to produce currency by silver and gold. ‘Gin’ means silver and ‘Kin’ means gold in Japanese so there were towns called, Ginza and Kinza in a past but only name of town Ginza remains at present. There were many craftsmen used to make a living for generations around this area. It is the historical area where many down to earth people used to live. Therefore, it has been being one of a flourishing and historical town.
I would like you to enjoy making a ring by only metal, MOKUME GANE, in Japanese traditional metal work and hope you will remember the history of Ginza when you watch and walk around here after this lesson.
Naoko Tamura
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