My Orchid Tsuba

Here it is, I completed it shortly before I left for Japan at the end of October. I think the influence of Kano Natsuo is very clear but I think my treatment of the ground is becoming more my own intuitive process now. I've been quite unconventional in the placement of the leaves and flowers on the back but it didn't raise any comment or negative critique so I imagine it worked.


The flowers are inlaid in a pale gold alloy I made up and enabled me to develop something of an oxide/patina layer to help create a shaded and modulated tone. It was really important to me to get away from the shiny appearance of gold and to use it purely for the colour I wanted to show.
You can follow most of the creation of this piece on the iron brush forum, here's a link to that thread

...and here's a link to some more images of the completed tsuba.

...it's been a while.

Apologies for the long silence. To be honest I've got so many thoughts that need to be sorted out in my mind regarding my work that I feel a flurry of short essays coming on, so I'll make it all up as soon as I can.

Anyway, Japan was intense...as always. The orchid tsuba was very well received...although it remains without a permanent home as yet....hope springs eternal ;-) Personally I was very happy with the way it turned out and I'll let you see the images in a day or two....
what a tease I am?

I've been working on another kagamibuta....I know, I said I was finished with that format due to an indifferent audience but things change. Seems someone with his own museum devoted to netsuke quite fancies my work and ideas. So I'll be making this one and another 8...making a neat dozen that will be on show in Kyoto.

This is what it looks like today. It's a raised steel bowl and inlayed and carved steel lid. the inset rim is gilt brass. I'll polish most of the gold off the outer surface and patinate the brass olive green. I've now got decide where and how many orchids to inlay. They'll be silver, gold and lilac. Bet you're wondering how on earth I'll manage lilac on silver....keep guessing but I'm not telling, you'll have to buy my horribly overpriced book to find out...if I ever get it published ;-)

Here's a link to the forum where you can see a few more images.