mo·kum·é | ˈmä-kəm-ā
adjective
A Japanese metalworking procedure which produces a mixed-metal design, resembling wood
Mokume Gane is a Japanese networking process that creates carefully layered metalwork that resembles wood. The phrase itself loosely translates to "wood grain metal" and involves fusing together multiple layers of different colored metals to form a billet, which can then be manipulated to create the wood grain pattern. Mokumé Gane has been used since the 17thc century in Japan, and was originally used for sword handles and sheaths. Since then, it has also been used for jewelry, hollowware included vases and statues, and more recently in flatware and more modern jewelry.
