| Home > Community > Forums > Techniques & Materials > Tag Misuse... MOKUME GANE |
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| Tag Misuse... MOKUME GANE |
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Joyfulcrow says: |
Seeing the issues raised by the cabochon discussions reminded me of the Mokume Gane issue.
Mokume Gane is an ancient traditional Japanese metalsmiting technique. It involves fusing many layers of alternating type metal in a furnace, tedious forging those layers thin, engraving or embossing a desin and manipulating the sheet into form, and finally a patina is applied to ad contrast to the metal.
Its translation from th eJapanese is "Wood Grained Metal"
What on earth has that got to do with smooshing some polymer clay together and calling it Mokume Gane???
Now I understand the issues behind the cabochon dispute. And suppliers are capitalizing on and selling as cabs, all kinds of things. And thus popular culture has adopted this term, and we stone cutters have to deal with it.
BUT no one is selling Polymer Clay as Mokume Gane. It is the Clay artists that are purposefully using this term inappropriately. It should stop.
My two cents.
I am not trying to call anyone out, but this term is totally misapplied.
Discuss. |
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Posted at 9:20 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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DreamsandJewelry says: |
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I agree completely. It's a technique that is so involved I think it's a complete misrepresentation to call clay Mokume Gane. |
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Posted at 9:32 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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bddesigns says: |
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Yeah, polymer clay is a BIG insult to the actual technique! If only the polymer clay makers knew what a bit of LABOR goes into the REAL Mokume Gane!!!!!!! |
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Posted at 9:32 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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ArtmakersWorlds says: |
lol... I saw the latest cabochon one got closed too.
I know what you mean with the mokume gane.
I think the "fusing many layers of alternating types" is why the clay version got the name.
Just waiting for millefiori cane to come up too.
Traditionally made with glass, those too are very popular with clay artists now.
It's not incorrect to use the term. Think about this. You said it's an "ancient" technique.
Polymer clay is not "ancient."
I really think people are mixing up technique with materials used.
Caning can be done in glass, OR clay.
mokume cane is also more of a technique than an object.
And... (dare I bring it up AGAIN?) According to Marriam Webster, "cabochon" has to do with the flat cut on one side, and "highly polished" on the other.
Again, could be glass, wood, plastic, OR gems.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cabochon
By the way previous definitions pointed to wikpedia. Which is about as credible as a forum post here. ANYONE can submit to it. |
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Posted at 9:33 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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dropofsunshine says: |
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wow polymer clay as mokume gane? As if it was really that easy, that is one of the hardest techniques I've ever seen! |
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Posted at 9:35 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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ArtmakersWorlds says: |
dropofsunshine says:
wow polymer clay as mokume gane? As if it was really that easy, that is one of the hardest techniques I've ever seen!
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Yes I fully agree.
But this seems to be the attitude towards polymer clay artists....
"What on earth has that got to do with smooshing some polymer clay together and calling it Mokume Gane???"
lol.... I'd like to see you get some clay, "smoosh it together" and come up with anything beautiful. |
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Posted at 9:44 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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ckathleensumers says: |
mokume gane technique applied to polymer clay is not easy at all. Granted it may not be as difficult as metalsmithing but it isn't a walk in the park either. It is a technique, as has been pointed out, as is millefiori.
Using the term for the technique applied to clay is in no way meant to belittle or make insignificant the effort involved in using other media.
That's my nickel's worth.
--Kathy |
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Posted at 9:47 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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Lapidarious says: |
all kidding aside, marriam webster never set foot in a lapidary shop. The term was originally "cut en cabochon", and was referred to a cut of GEMSTONE. True enough that it referred to a domed flat backed shape. It is being used in other material erroneously. But as I have stated and acknowledged, it is in the popular usage realm now, and all we can do is separate them for ease and accuracy of search in the future.
Lets let the cab thing rest before we get all pissy at each other shall we? |
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Posted at 9:48 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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ArtmakersWorlds says: |
Kathy well said. Worth more than a nickel to me.
(as one who has tried the mokume gane technique a few times myeslf.) |
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Posted at 9:48 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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cgwhitfield says: |
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Joyful - nothing to discuss. Of course it's wrong, but it does get tiring and a little disheartening to have to keep explaining the obvious. |
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Posted at 9:51 pm, March 12 2009 EST - Report this post
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| This thread has been closed. |
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