Utsushi - in search of Katsuhira's tiger. Part 1

[MrGoldsmith2000]

Thank you so much for posting this video. How did you manage to pour such a perfect ingot by pouring the shibuichi into water? Was there some structure underneath to make it form into a disc?

Is there a book in English that covers Japanese metal working techniques? If not I think you're immanently qualified to write one.

[ironbrush]

@MrGoldsmith2000 Hi, experience I suppose...the 'mould' is simply some canvas hanging a bit like a hammock.

Unfortunately there are no books available on the subject...yet. I do hope to be able to spend some time documenting the tradition though.

[UzbeKot]

Mr. Hallam, can you tell me please, what kind of saw blades do you use at 6:38?

I've failed to find anything like those in my city.

And thank you for your art. It's really inspiring :)

[ironbrush]

@UzbeKot They're standard jeweller's piercing saw blades. They can be found though any jewellery tool supply store, there are loads on-line too. Jewellers tend to use 0/2 and 0/3 for most typical work. I 

[HaloLvl43Legit]

Then you do a search on youtube and find a clearance on 10000 swords with that same guard for 30bucks each.

[TrackFourtyFour]

You are a badass.

[ironbrush]

@TrackFourtyFour  Cheers! praise indeed. My son's will be very impressed ;-)

[Walkerofdeepsleep]

absolutely mesmerizing, such a beautiful art. I hope to learn to do this someday

[bryangrossman]

I have always loved metal work in all its forms... To take raw material and then quite literally bend it to your will and create something like this... amazing. I am humbled by the level of skill and care being displayed here.... I am quite jealous sir. It must be very satisfying to rejoice in the completion of a piece like this.... You are truly a master at your art.... It's sad that skills like these are disappearing....

[ironbrush]

@bryangrossman Thank you for your kind comments. I'm doing what I can to help others learn these methods and to develop similar skills so all is not lost yet ;-)

[glideonglide]

素晴らしい！

今後も、その技と職人魂を大切にし、次世代へ伝えてください。

心から応援しております。

[ironbrush]

@glideonglide 励ましのお言葉をいただきありがとうございます。私は最善を尽く­してまいります。

[johnlopez123]

Ford, why did you scrape it before hammering? Did you say you added nickel to the alloy?

[ironbrush]

@johnlopez123 To remove any rough spots that may otherwise have worked into the ingot during forging and then created pitting or tiny pockets in the surface of the final plate., There's no nickel in the alloy.

[mitsuhirotsukuda]

素晴らしさに言葉を失います。驚き感動しています。10月に東京­で展覧会があるという事ですが、いつどこででしょうか？



[ironbrush]

@mitsuhirotsukuda 温かいお言葉をいただきありがとうございます。私は再び日本を訪­問できるようになるとき、私はわからないが、私は展覧会を整理す­ることができる午前とき、私はインターネットで、ここや他の発表­を行います。

[Burlokk]

Even if they possessed the craftsmanship, how on earth were they able to see those tiny details? Did they use a magnifying glass?

[ironbrush]

@Burlokk Yes, it's one of those odd things that almost everyone tends overlook but in fact magnifying lenses were available in Japan from the late 1500's. The first most probably brought to Japan by Portuguese traders. The reality is simple, if you can't see it you can't do it. Ancient Roman seal rings display remarkable fine engravings and these too would have been impossible without the aid of magnifying lenses.

[kafusfv]

amazing work. The sword that received this Tsuba..is truly proud to wear it.

[SmashChopBeat]

アメージング！

いやマジで超絶技巧。執念か。

[ironbrush]

@SmashChopBeat どうもありがとう。

[SmashChopBeat]

@ironbrush 本当に素晴らしい。単なる技術偏重主義や模倣ではなく、

「当時の作者が求めたものを、自分も求める事」という本当の意味­での「写し」だと

私は感じました。

その心や技法を是非伝え残して欲しいと思います。

願わくば日本への逆輸入を希望します（笑

[ironbrush]

@SmashChopBeat 私は10月に東京に来るとき、そこに私の仕事が表示されます。日­本は私にとても親切にしている。おそらくあなたは、展覧会を見る­機会になります。あなたのような式をいただき、ありがとうござい­ます。

[SmashChopBeat]

@ironbrush Thank you for information of exhibition. I want to go to appreciate ur exhibition at all costs.

絶対見に行きます。

[mithelm]

Truly, truly incredible work, Ford. You are an absolute master of your craft and have more talent and ability in one fingernail than I ever will.

On a side note, do you know the name of the saxophone piece that comes it at 12:00?

[ironbrush]

@mithelm Thank you for your generous compliment. Sorry, I don't know the name of that sax track. It was Non-copyright music ...

[MichiganFlyfisher]

What is the fitting book you are referencing to? I have been looking for books similar to this but have had minimal luck. If you dont mind that is.

[ironbrush]

@MichiganFlyfisher The first book, the one with the other Katsuhira pair, is the catalogue of the Compton Collection. I wouldn't recommend it as a general overview book though. The other book is even more specialised, focussing on 2 artists of the Higo tradition. The Boston Museum of Art produced a good starter book a few years ago; Lethal Elegance. Their website also has a database of over 3000 sword fittings beautifully illustrated, well worth a look.

[ironbrush]

@MichiganFlyfisher You may find more recommendations for useful books on my forum: You'll find the address in the hidden text just below "Show more", above.

[qathome]

It was very interesting to see what goes into making a piece like that and I'm very impressed by the result.

Thanks for sharing this with others.

[metal666micky]

You have an obsessive attention to detail which I find inspiring. Eg, when polishing the metal after initial hammering, you polish the sides which you know will only be cut off in the near future. A fantastic insight into the workings of a craftsman.

Many thanks to both yourself and your client/sponsor for sharing. It seems watching your process is far more rewarding than someone watching me code a software program for four months :)

[ironbrush]

@metal666micky

Glad you enjoyed the film. I have to add, though, that I'm not quite THAT obsessive as to polish the edges of the plate if there was no reason to. ;-) What you can see is actually merely the hammered edge :-)

Polishing the plate itself only took a couple of hours really and from the point of view of then being able to properly asses the colour, grain structure and to be able to check for flaws it's a small investment in time. A craftsman should strive to be pragmatic. :-)

[placidpanoptikon]

This is one of the most incredible and inspiring things I have seen in my life. I've watched both parts almost 30 times already and play it in the background while I write my thesis on Japanese architecture.

[catpee3000]

this was just...quite honestly, one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen. i've already watched both parts FOUR times today, and i could watch them more. it's almost like the artist and film maker figured out how to put "zen" onto film. i can't even put into words how much i love this! i'm going to put these videos on my phone so i can watch them whenever i need to step back and relax for awhile.

[djtreq]

Truly exquisite and phenomenal... I am awestruck in so many dimensions that searching for further words would be pointless.

May I ask, how many hours did you invest into crafting this amazing work of art?

[bjf10]

Wow! Such control with the chisel, I have enough trouble with my hand engravers, I can't imagine using a hammer. :-)

[ironbrush]

Hi Russell

Thank you. The tsuba I made was signed " Hagiya Katsuhira Utsushi" ( ie; Hagia Katsuhira copy/study) on one side of the central oval space and with my own signature "Fo O do" on the other side.

If I were to make forgeries I'd be much more discreet about how I did it ;-)

[russellsmith93]

Extraordinary!!! Very well done!.

One small question, on a restorative reproduction such as this, do you mark it in some way so that it is not thought of as a forgery?

[Rogue1031]

MASTER craftsman!  Hands of a surgeon! Exceptionally talented, and this was a very interesting video!

[hephaistos2]

Quel talent !

Formidable travail

[OdedFriedGaon]

INCREDIBLY INTERESTING!

[giligaon1]

incredibly interesting!

[jspurl1n]

Amazing film -- both parts. That was a pleasure to watch. Thank you for the opportunity to see the process.

I love working with my hands, and hope someday to make something beautiful like this.

[beardedbroccoli]

This is great, I'd love to get into metal work like this if only I knew how. Thanks man!

[LANKRADSA]

Great work and great film, pleasure to watch ;-)

[jayboatright]

Unbelievable. We need a return to more of this artisan practice for our future.

[tomxana]

I've just finished watching part 1 and I'm absolutely amazed by this...

Very very good!

Congratulations on such a superb job.

[CliveGordonable]

Absolutely superb!!!