"Koi no taki-nobori" Motif
Carved steel plate, gold inlays, dark brown SabeTsuke patina.
Scroll down to see a series of process pictures.

Rough sketch based on the Clients requests.

The steel plate is cut out to spec and the rim is filed to shape.

The prepared blank is heated and set in the pitchbowl.


The Seppa dia is scribed in and the the design is transfered via punch.

The carving begins with a "heavy" chaseing hammer.

Hisage ( a type of scraper) is used to refine the tool marks.


Carving and scrapeing goes on until the scene develops.

When the scene is inplace the surface is further refined with stones and burnishing tools.

last stage of surface refinment is polishing with an abrasive slurry and horsehair
brush.

The high state of refinement reveals areas that need more attention so its back to the
stones.

Heavy polishing mutes fine textures so they added in after polishing.

Some tools for doing Ten zogan (dot inlay)

Gold Spray being added to the cavities.

The front is now ready for patina.


end.