58265

A modern Britannia silver “Craggy Beaker with Nunome inlay”

A modern Britannia silver and 24 K Gold “Craggy Beaker with Nunome inlay”
Edinburgh 2020 by Yusuke Yamamoto

The circular body of the beaker, slightly widening towards the upper edge and adorned on all sides by a chiselled surface with different surface structures. Some facets are worked with gold inlays in 24 K yellow gold, which were inserted in the so-called nunome technique: in this technique, the base metal is cut out manually and the inserted metal is firmly connected to the surrounding metal by hammer blows to the edges. This Japanese technique allows the insertion of other metals where soldering would be technically risky, but requires the highest degree of precision and craftsmanship from the artist. Outstanding and in every respect excellent work from one of the leading artist silversmiths in the UK.
Characteristic of the artist’s work is the fact that the entire surface design is created exclusively with hammers and punching irons of varying degrees of fineness.
An overview of other objects by Yusuke Yamamoto can be found here.

Yusuke Yamamoto studied from 2000 – 2004 at the Musashino Art University in Tokyo and perfected his technical skills in countless courses and private lessons, including in the workshops of Malcolm Appleby and Ray Walton. As a specialist in the field of silversmithing and surface design, he became also assistant in the class for metalwork at Musashino Art University from 2005 – 2010 and a guest lecturer at the Glasgow School of Art from 2012 – 2014. From 2010 – 2012 he was in artistic collaboration with Hiroshi Suzuki for whom he was responsible of surface treatment. Yusuke Yamamoto’s highest level of craftsmanship in surface design is on the one hand in the tradition of Japanese silversmithing and yet still has its own signature, coupled with an inconceivable perfection.

8.6 cm / 3.38″ tall, 9.4 cm / 3.70″ diameter; 312.4g / 11.01 oz

---