Mokumé gané (pronounced moe’-koo-may gah’-nay) has captivated me for years. Though I may never create this patterned metal myself, the process—and the incredible designs it produces—never cease to inspire me. The closest I’ll likely get is finishing the mokumé gané bangle blank I purchased, a project by renowned artist Steve Midgett featured in Lapidary Journal, March 2002. What Is Mokumé Gané? Translated as “wood-grain metal,” mokumé gané is an ancient Japanese metalsmithing technique developed by master swordsmiths of feudal Japan. This laminated metals process produces distinctive, swirling patterns that resemble wood grain, similar in concept to Damascus steel. It…
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