Hello All,
Here is a link to a class recently held at my shop and I thought you
may enjoy the content. Classical Japanese Metalworking Patrick Hastings - YouTube
The five day class was an exploration of Classical Japanese
Metalworking and was taught by Patrick Hastings TAGANE ARTS
The students made most of the tools in the class and heat treated
them then set out to use them for chisel work and carious inlays.
We may offer this class again in 2012.
This was the class description
"This class is an introduction to Classical Japanese Decorative
Metalwork. The techniques you will learn are well suited to soft
iron/steels as well as copper,silver, gold and other traditional
alloys. Mr. Hastings will demonstrate a selection of traditional
techniques and then guide you through those techniques as you try
them yourself.
An essential skill in this art-form is the creation and maintenance
of your own tooling. Any given project may require new tools and on
the first day Patrick will discuss the manufacture and design of the
various Tagane tools. You will learn how to shape and sharpen the
specialized Tagane such as the “Katakiri” chisel, “Shishiaibori”
chisel and inlay punches. You will be making a “Hisage” scraper
which is integral to Japanese metal carving. All the steel blanks
for these tools are included in the price of the class and you will
acquire not only the knowledge to make more, but will have a basic
tool kit of your own at class end to take to your own shops.
You will test and tune your tooling on a smooth sheet of metal
mounted in “Matsuyani” (Japanese Pitch). Patrick will introduce you
to “Katakiri-bori” (Broad Stroke Engraving), a unique form of
engraving which expresses line in a similar fashion as Japanese Ink
painting. This is an amazing technique and a wonderful way to get
familiar with how tagane are used.
From there Patrick will introduce you to “Ten Zogon” (Dot Inlay),
“Hira Zogon” (Flush Inlay), “Taka Zogon” (Raised Inlay) and finally
a technique of relief carving of the raised inlay. All of these
techniques can be combined and mixed to created a wonderfully wide
range of effects.
A note from Patrick:
“I love to teach and I am really looking forward to this class. I
know it will be a lot of fun for all of us. Feel free to email
with questions”
Ric Furrer
Sturgeon Bay, WI
