What does good / superior nanako work look like?

[kaigunair]

Just wanted to throw out another big to Mike and Ford for posting great examples. I appreciate the time and effort they contributed to the thread to make it all the more useful to use neophyets!

 

I don't think there are any "optical illusions" in the posting of these great examples, and its somewhat counterproductive to introduce this thought this without any support. I believe the question was whether such refined uniformity was the result of a multi-punch tool vs an individual punch. From older threads on this subject, I believe the consensus is that a multi-punch tool would result in less precise nanako work.

 

I agree that this detail of work is almost unbelievable to behold, especially in this age where we are led to believe that precision and details can only be obtained and attributed to machines. This is only exacerbated by the fact that we want everything to move at light speed, while such skill requires years of tedious and repetitive training, on top of inherent talent. Its sad, but the loss of our ability to discern quality and craftsmanship means we aren't willing to pay for it either, and so we more easily give our cash over to people who produce nothing (marketers and financiers) rather than support the craftsmen who produce these works of art, thereby enabling them to achive higher levels of superior and awe inspiring workmanship.

 

As a community of collectors, perhaps if for every 9 edo-era or earlier items we collected, we sought out 1 item from a current working craftsman whose work we appreciated or saw potential with, we'd enable more such craftsmen to enter or expand their skill sets, thereby adding more exquisite pieces to this body of work and gaining more insight and knowledge into the art we appreciate so much. Wouldn't that be grand?

[runagmc]

Hi Junichi, I only meant to say that it's possible that the example Ford posted (or any picture of nanako for that matter) might not be quite as perfect as it looks... I made the point because while reading the post I was looking at a nanako ground plate in hand, and you might be surprised how overlapping punches can disappear in the shadows with the right angle of light... only Ford can tell us for sure if they are as perfect as the picture looks... for what it's worth, like I said in an earlier post, it looks to be about the best nanako I've seen...

 

Maybe Ford or someone else can give feedback on the multi-nanako punch and its effectiveness...

[kaigunair]

Hi Adam, understood your comment better now in context, and hope mine didn't cause too much of an offense. My feeling is that there is nanako THAT good, as unbelievable as it is, and hopefully more of us can appreciate it now knowing more about the variations and subtle differences.

 

Seems like you've had hands on experience, so I hope you're finding the financial support you need to continue your growth in the craft!

[runagmc]

I'm just playing... for my own enjoyment :D