Original pattern Side Weave Mesh bracelet, featuring a clasp of Eastern repoussé patterned mokume gane

This was the first mokume gane that I patterned purely from the hammering of the Eastern repoussé technique. The sheet metal of the clasp is composed of fused layers of copper and sterling. During the process, only the top metal, in this case copper, is visible. As I create the repoussé relief, I displace the evenness of these layers. In the final stages of refining the shapes through chasing from the front, I intentionally leave the hammer marks slightly deeper than I normally would. I then grind off those surface hammer marks, revealing the randomly displaced metals, which I patina to enhance the contrast. It’s like scratching off a lottery ticket to reveal the prize. With mokume gane, I’ve always been fortunate to win.

Private collection