The samurai sword - once a lethal weapon in the hands of the initiated - also symbolised the wealth and status of the Japanese warrior class. Traditional swordsmiths developed an array of techniques to decorate their work, displaying a level of craftsmanship that elevated their trade into a fine art. The seventeenth-century master, Denbei Shoami, first developed the technique known as mokume gane, which combined the cool functionality of metal with the warm aesthetics of wood. With the careful manipulation of heat and pressure, he found that layers of different metals could be fused without becoming molten in order to create unique patterns.

The traditional practitioner of mokume gane fused gold, silver, copper and Japanese alloys into solid laminated billets, which could then be shaped and finished to create both the tsuba and sword-fittings. The modern mokume gane technique combines this method with solid state diffusion - a process first developed by NASA to enable the construction of space-craft free from stress points - which translates to a more defined and cleaner line between the alloys. Unique patterns are then created by hand-carving through the layers and forging the laminated stack. The artisan repeats this process many times to create the desired effect, but each piece is an individual expression of the art. Although the metalsmith is able to influence the outcome, the process can never be repeated, and the unique identity of every art-piece therefore serves as a metaphor for the creative act itself.

Ancient Future is my response to what I perceive as the ephemeral and unsustainable nature of contemporary consumer culture. All of the works are created in an atmosphere of contemplation, clarity and diligence, and these original pieces are handcrafted with love and designed to endure through the ages.

The Diamond Sword
Forged from fire of being
The eye in the wood