Kaga inlay with a modern feeling
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Kaga inlay with a modern feeling |
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HISTORY Kaga inlay works developed as samurai class prospered At the end of the 16th century, Maeda's lords brought inlay technicians from Kyoto. These technicians were divided into two groups; the group who decorated swords, or shirogane-shi and the other who decorated stirrups, or abumi-shi. Kaga Clan hired the family of Goto who at the time dominated over nation's goldsmith craftsmen. For stirrups, the lords hired Katsuki and Koichi families. Under the lords' sponsorship, the techniques advanced remarkably and Kaga's inlay works climbed to the summit in the nation. CHARACTERISTICS Hira-zogan is the mainstream There are many techniques in inlay works. In Kaga inlay works, hira-zonan, or flat engraving is used widely. In flat engraving, the grooves are wider at the bottom, or aridade, it is called, so that when mongane, or foreign metal is inlayed into the grooves, it becomes harder for inlayed metal to come off. Currently there are three prefectures who produce inlay works as traditional art crafts; they are Ishikawa, Kyoto and Kumamoto. Ishikawa is the only prefecture that specializes in flat engraving. |