Mokume gane (“wood-eye metal” in Japanese) is an ancient Japanese patterning technique that was developed to decorate samurai swords 300 years ago. This class covers the complete
process, starting with the preparation of metal by bonding sheets of different colored alloys using heat and pressure but no solder. The metal is then carved, embossed and/or abraded, and rolled to create beautiful, imaginative patterns that can resemble wood grain, flowing water, and more, to make jewelry or other objects. Prerequisite: Fabrication2 or experience.

Jim Binion is recognized as one of the art metal community’s most gifted makers and is also a respected engineer and innovator in the technical metals field. Jim is one of the world’s authorities on patterned metals and the science of jewelry making. He has taught numerous classes and presented a number of technical papers at the Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology.