1. Mokume Gane Sena Sprague

2. Mokume Gane is a metalworking technique where more than one different kinds of metals are pressed together on a single billet and from there made into decorative works.

3. Billets Metalworking. a comparatively narrow, generally square, bar of steel, especially one rolled or forged from an ingot; a narrow bloom. In the mokume gane technique, the billet has many layers of different kinds of metals. Because the pattern of mokume gane is in the combination of metals, it cannot be rubbed or worn off.

6. The Mokume Gane Story In the late 1600’s to the mid 1800’s, the samurai sword transitioned from being a tool for fighting battles into a symbol of the warrior class in Japan.

7. The quality and amount of decoration on the sword handle and sheath of a samurai’s sword became an indicator of their social status and wealth. The level of craftsmanship demonstrated in many swords from this time period are second to none.

8. The sword smiths developed many techniques for use in the decoration of these swords. The traditional technique of mokume gane (mokume = wood grain, and gane = metal) was one such technique.

9. Types of Mokume gane

10. Denbei Shoami, a 17th century master metal smith from the Akita prefecture is credited with inventing mokume gane and using it for the adornment of samurai swords.

11. At first, Shoami had named the technique Guri Bori,due to the pattern on his first nonferrous Mokume-Gane sword guard; which was like Guri.

12. Guri is one of the Tsuishu techniques in lacquer work (Ushi), originating in ancient China. Tsuishu is a technique where various patterns are achieved by carving into thick layers of different colored lacquer; when line patterns are created, it is referred to as Guri.

13. Traditional metals and alloys are gold, copper, silver, shakudo, shibuichi, and kuromido. The Mokume Gane technique was also called Itame-Gane or Yosefuki for some time.

14. Shoami was known for mokume-gane, but he was also a historically important figure in sword making.

15. Part that is traditionally decorated -------> However, more knife-makers are using the mokume gane technique for the hilt and blade as well. And the technique is becoming increasingly popular for wedding rings in particular.

16. Mokume Gane today is popularized primarily in wedding rings

19. But can also be used in other metal working projects such as knives and home décor.

23. Some crafters imitate the mokume gane technique with polymer clay to produce a similar effect.

25. Thank You

26. Works Cited http://www.silversmithing.com http://www.shiningwave.com http://www.krikawa.com Wikipedia.org http://www.mokume-gane.com http://www.silversmithing.com http://www.shiningwave.com http://www.krikawa.com