keshikomi zôgan 消込象嵌

[Lorenzo]

I suspect that to full fill the carving to get a flat surface there are several continued applications of the gold and mercury amalgam making the gold application in relief, at least considering the base of the carving.

 

Since Ford wrote here:

I have serious doubts about etching the ground metal away the leave the gold in relief though. An etched surface is never very even and in addition the alloy would be selectively removed as the gold component would resist the action of the acid.

 

I still do not understand how (and if) a gold application can stand out the surface if not applied so that it stands out immediately and without further work to low the rest of the work down. So I can guess (and since I am only guessing all feel free to correct me) that a gold gilded drawing that stands out the surface may be applied in a similar way then an hiramakie in urushi or several application such takamakie, so without a carving on the base material :?

 

I think Ford can solve our doubts here

[Ford Hallam]

Ok...let me see if I can clear up some points :D

 

kin keshi komi zogan is only used to fill chiselled or engraved lines and dots. A further application would be over a textured ground what would then be polished flat to produce a mottled or variegated pattern.

 

The easiest way the distinguish true wire inlay from kinkeshi komi zogan is the examine the ends of the lines. Wire inlay end square while keshi zogan tapers off to a fine point. As with all things there may be exceptions but generally this is pretty clear.

 

Martin, the leaves on your kozuka are almost certainly true hira zogan. To try and fill these leaf shapes with amalgam gilding would be wasteful, take longer than doing true inlay and also not be as easy so it wouldn't make sense in this case. In fact it never makes sense to try to simulate true inlay of bigger pieces with kin keshi zogan.

 

Lorenzo, stop with the guessing....it's not helping

 

So I can guess (and since I am only guessing all feel free to correct me) that a gold gilded drawing that stands out the surface may be applied in a similar way then an hiramakie in urushi or several application such takamakie, so without a carving on the base material

This is not at all something that is done in Japanese metalwork...it's simply not feasible in any real, practical application.