Item number: 60233
A contemporary Mokume-gane an Uchidashi Triskellion box,
San Diego 2025 by Anne Wolf
The base, formed as a partially truncated sphere, rests on three raised feet created by the repoussé technique. The gently waisted upper rim is surmounted by a shallow Mokume-gane lid, ornamentally worked at its centre in the Uchidashi technique.
An exceptional work by the American metalsmith Anne Wolf, combining outstanding craftsmanship with a distinctive artistic expression.
7.0 cm / 2.76″ diameter, 5.5 cm / 2.17″ height
Uchidashi and Tankin – the Japanese Art of Metal Raising and Hammer Forming
Japanese metalwork encompasses a centuries-old tradition of sculptural form-making through the manipulation of sheet metal. A particularly significant role is played by repoussé and chasing techniques, in which the material is neither cast nor carved from a solid block, but instead shaped entirely through controlled hammering into its final form. In this context, two closely related terms are Tankin (鍛金) and Uchidashi (打ち出し).
Tankin (鍛金) refers to the broader process of Japanese metal forming through hammer work. A sheet of silver, copper, or other metal is shaped through repeated, controlled strikes using a variety of hammers and specialised tools. In the process, the metal is stretched, compressed, and structurally transformed. The silversmith gradually develops the form from the original material, working in close dialogue with the inherent properties of the metal.
Uchidashi (打ち出し) is a specific expression within this Tankin tradition. The term literally translates as “to drive out” and describes the deliberate raising of a three-dimensional form from a flat sheet of metal. The work is often carried out from the reverse side, gradually building volume from within. In this way, form, relief, and organic structure emerge solely through the movement and displacement of the metal itself – without the addition or application of material.
The particular significance of Uchidashi lies in the direct connection between concept, hand, and material. Each individual hammer blow affects the tension, surface, and expressive character of the work. Traces of the making process may be intentionally preserved, lending the surface a vivid and highly individual texture.
Whereas Tankin encompasses the entire tradition of forming metal through hammering and raising, Uchidashi refers to the precise technique of sculpturally modelling a form out of sheet metal. It should therefore not be understood as an independent method outside Tankin, but rather as a highly refined and particularly expressive manifestation within this broader Japanese craft tradition.
The distinctive qualities of Anne Wolf’s mokume-gane works
Anne Wolf is an internationally acclaimed metal artist, jewellery designer and specialist in Mokume-gane, living and working in San Diego, California. For more than three decades, she has devoted herself to the study and refinement of traditional Japanese metalworking techniques and is today regarded as one of the leading figures in contemporary Mokume-gane practice in the United States.
Following her studies in Applied Design and the completion of a Master of Fine Arts in Jewellery and Metals at San Diego State University, Wolf developed a distinctive artistic language that unites technical precision with geological and natural forms. Her works range from Mokume-gane vessels such as tea caddies, boxes, vases and small bowls to sculptural objects and jewellery. They are characterised by complex metal patterns evocative of wood grain, sedimentary layers and processes of erosion.
Wolf trained under leading international experts in Japanese metal arts, damascene metalwork and Mokume-gane, and now shares her expertise as an educator through workshops and courses worldwide. Her works have been shown in numerous national and international exhibitions, attracting attention for their innovative synthesis of traditional craftsmanship, contemporary jewellery design and experimental metalwork. Working from her studio in San Diego, Anne Wolf is regarded as a significant voice in contemporary American metalsmithing, with work that explores the boundaries between jewellery, sculpture and material research.
3.200,- EUR
