Damascening

Damascening
Some examples of damascening labour.

Damascening is the art of inlaying different metals into one another—typically, gold or silver into a darkly oxidized steel background—to produce intricate patterns similar to niello. The English term comes from a perceived resemblance to the rich tapestry patterns of damask silk.

The technique has a long history in Japan, where it was used to decorate katana fittings, particularly tsuba. Known as zougan in Japanese, it has developed its own subset of terms to describe the particular patterns, although "shippou-zougan" is an enamelling technique which most Westerners would consider closer to champlevé.

Damascened-inlay jewelry, especially of Japanese origin, is sometimes referred to as shakudo from the use of that alloy as the dark background.

The technique of niello is also famously attested in prehistoric Greece. The earliest occurrence of damascening in the Aegean, from the Shaft Graves of Mycenae, dates to the latest Middle Bronze Age/Middle Helladic IIIB period (dagger Nu-304). Ultimately of Near Eastern provenance, the technique of inlaying silver/gold was adapted to suit Aegean taste and style.

Cities that are known for a rich history in Damascening where the technique is still practiced are Toledo, Spain, and Kyoto, Japan.

External links

Detail of damascening, in this case gold inlaid into oxidized steel, in a hairclasp from Toledo, Spain.



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • damascening — ▪ art       art of encrusting gold, silver, or copper wire on the surface of iron, steel, bronze, or brass. A narrow undercut is made in the surface of the metal with a chisel and the wire forced into the undercut by means of a hammer. The name… …   Universalium

  • damascening — dam·a·scene || dæmÉ™siːn(d) v. create wavy lines on Damascus steel adj. of or pertaining to damask fabric; of or pertaining to the decoration of metal with wavy patterns …   English contemporary dictionary

  • damascening — damascenˈing noun 1. Inlaying upon steel 2. The production of watered appearance on steel • • • Main Entry: ↑damascene …   Useful english dictionary

  • Damascene — /dam euh seen , dam euh seen /, adj., n., v., Damascened, Damascening. adj. 1. of or pertaining to the city of Damascus. 2. (l.c.) of or pertaining to the art of damascening. n. 3. an inhabitant of Damascus. 4. (l.c.) work or patterns produced by …   Universalium

  • metalwork — metalworker, n. /met l werrk /, n. objects made of metal. [1840 50; METAL + WORK] * * * Useful and decorative objects fashioned of various metals. The oldest technique is hammering. After с 2500 BC, casting was also used, molten metal being… …   Universalium

  • damascene — /ˈdæməsin/ (say damuhseen), /dæməˈsin/ (say damuh seen) adjective 1. of or relating to the art of damascening. –noun 2. work or patterns produced by damascening. –verb (t) (damascened, damascening) Also, damaskeen /dæməˈskin/ (say damuh skeen). 3 …  

  • Sword — For other uses, see Sword (disambiguation) and Swords (disambiguation). Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century A sword is a bladed weapon (edged weapon) used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the… …   Wikipedia

  • Damascene — Dam•a•scene [[t]ˈdæm əˌsin[/t]] adj. n. v. scened, scen•ing 1) of or pertaining to the city of Damascus 2) (l.c.) of or pertaining to the art of damascening 3) an inhabitant of Damascus 4) (l.c.) work or patterns produced by damascening 5) mel (l …   From formal English to slang

  • Damascene — [dam′ə sēn΄, dam΄ə sēn′] adj. [L Damascenus, of Damascus] 1. of Damascus or its people or culture 2. [d ] of damascening or damask n. 1. a person born or living in Damascus 2. [d ] damascened work 3. [d ] a small plum: see DAMSON …   English World dictionary

  • Koftgari — Koft ga*ri , a. [Hind. koft gar[ i] goldbeating. fr. Per. koft beating + gar[ i] trade.] Ornamental work produced by inlaying steel with gold, a variety of damascening much used in the arts of India. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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