Grey metallic Mokume Gane polymer clay pendant

A hand made polymer clay pendant of an approximately triangular shape.   The pendant is metallic greys in colour and the pattern made using a technique based on an ancient Japanese metalworking technique called Mokume Gane.

The Japanese made magnificent Samurai swords etc. with this technique that involved the bonding in layers of several colours of precious metals, then manipulating the shape and then cutting thin sheets from the resulting block, which had an integral grain pattern of contours where the different colours of metal had changed direction. The result was much like wood grain, hence the name, which describes the eyes of wood captured in metal.

I have done the same with polymer clay, many layers of greys and blacks were rolled very thin and pressed together, then impressed with a leaf shaped printing block which caused a contour type pattern through the layers.  I then take very thin slices from the block to apply to pendants etc. rather like a veneer.  The surface has been wet sanded and polished smooth and finished with a gloss acrylic sealant to seal in the shine.  Despite looking as though it has texture, it is completely flat.

The pendant hangs from a silver plated wrapped loop bail featuring black glass beads.   The pendant hangs 75mm (2.9") overall from the top of the bail and the bail loop is approximately 6mm (¼") so will accomodate most chains or cords.  The pendant itself is 56mm (2.2") wide and 49mm (1.9") tall.