| All over the world there have been many | | | | melting. The complexity of the design |
| different ways to manipulate metals in | | | | could be increased by hammering them |
| order to obtain beautiful and unique | | | | flat and folding them. |
| shapes. Although they were meant at | | | | In present days, mokume consists of the |
| first to create practical objects, they | | | | same basic process but with more modern |
| have later become the primary process of | | | | machinery. Thus a controlled atmosphere |
| creating decorative objects such as | | | | is usually used in an electric furnace |
| jewelry. | | | | with temperature control. Hand forging |
| The art of manipulating metals has been | | | | is now replaced by a hydraulic press |
| taken to another level in the early | | | | that can apply far greater force to the |
| centuries of the 2nd millennium in | | | | metals. The use of modern machinery also |
| Japan. The swords obtained here were | | | | allows the creator to include other |
| recognized as being the best in quality | | | | components in the design like titanium, |
| and endurance by rights, because some of | | | | nickel, platinum and others. |
| them still have a sharp edge after a few | | | | The whole process of mokume requires a |
| hundred years. | | | | lot of concentration and also exactness |
| In Japan there were many sword types: | | | | from the artist. The key to it is to |
| katana, nodachi, wakizashi, tanto, | | | | know exactly when to stop it, because |
| kwaiken and many others. Each of these | | | | each moment too soon or too late can |
| swords is grouped according to their | | | | make the difference between a unique |
| length or by being either single or | | | | piece of jewelry and total disaster. |
| double edged. The effectiveness of a | | | | If the process would be halted too soon, |
| Japanese sword in combat exceeded that | | | | the metals would not bind together and |
| of the opponent's. | | | | thus the piece could no longer be |
| After the age of war ended, in the 17th | | | | obtained. On the other hand, if the |
| century, the manipulation of metals was | | | | process wouldn't be stopped at the |
| undertaken for decorative purposes. This | | | | required moment and it would go on for |
| is when mokume-gane took birth, a | | | | longer, the effects of this would be the |
| process that consists of mixing metals | | | | melting of the metals and the result |
| in order to obtain unique and | | | | would be a metal paste that could not be |
| distinctive patterns. | | | | used for anything anymore. |
| The designs obtained through mokume | | | | This is the reason why mokume should be |
| resemble those of wood fibers. In fact, | | | | undertaken only by those who know what |
| if you would translate the expression | | | | they are doing. The cosmic jewelry |
| into English, it means metal that | | | | artist David Weitzman is one of those |
| resembles knots in wood. Traditionally, | | | | people and he uses this process to |
| the design is obtained by using soft | | | | create some of the most unique pieces |
| metallic elements or alloys, which would | | | | you have ever seen. |
| form bonds with one another without | | | | |