Mokume gane is a traditional Japanese metal forging art that originated in feudal Japan in the 17th century. Mokume gane translates closely to “wood-grain metal” or “eye of the wood-grain metal” due to the organic patterns that can be achieved. Originally used to decorate samurai swords, mokume gane has experienced a resurgence in the production of fine jewelry.
The top image shows oxidized silver and copper mokume gane, the bottom image shows woodgrain.
Mokume gane is made by fusing a stack of different precious and/or semi-precious metals into a single piece called a billet. The stack of metals is bonded together at very high temperatures where a eutectic alloy forms between the layers that essentially fuses the stack into a single piece, called a billet. The beauty is that each of the metals in the billet retains its own colors and properties, but the billet can be worked as if it were a single metal. Wonderful patterns can be achieved in the layered metal through combinations of grinding, twisting, filing, and forging.