Shakudo is an extraordinary metal with a venerable history beginning in 15th century Japan or perhaps even in the ancient societies of Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Shakudo is most often associated with the decorative metalwork on the swords of Japanese samurai. Today shakudo can be seen in the craft of ‘mokume-gane’, a metal-layering process used to make ornamental containers that results in the appearance of highly-textured wood grain. Shakudo is evocative of ancient history and the elemental forces of nature.

Traditionally, shakudo is an alloy of copper and 4 - 25% pure gold which is then treated with a chemical solution to achieve the beautiful bluish-black or dark purple metallic patina. Midori Ferris-Wayne has developed her own combination of gold, copper, and chemistry to create the signature chocolate-brown shakudo that so gorgeously awakens the spirit of the natural world.

As the trees begin to lose their leaves in Autumn’s last hurrah, we’ve added to our collection these gorgeous shakudo pieces by Midori Ferris-Wayne: a reminder that even without their foliage, trees continue to inspire awe.