Nunome Zogan – Ancient Japanese inlay technique
3-day workshop with Elisa Deval
March 7-9 2025
Duration: 18 hours
A GLIMPSE INTO ΑΝ ANCIENT JAPANESE INLAY TECHNIQUE. This 3-day workshop will cover the basics of Nunome-Zogan, or wave-inlay, and Rokusho patina. This ancient Japanese technique allows the inlay of silver and gold patterns, , without the use of welding, heat or glue, onto iron or copper-based alloys, among which the most common are Shakudo and Shibuichi. Some of the tools used for the inlay are handmade and their uniqueness is one of the characteristics that makes this technique special. During the course, you will be using tools personally created by the instructor Elisa Deval.
After the inlay process, the artifacts are treated with patination techniques. During the darkening process, the color of the base metals turns into different shades of red, gray and blue black. This effect emphasizes the silver and gold inlays. It is, then, possible to create any kind of design, ranging from subtle glittering gold traces to big and intricate motifs on top of the dark metal background.
Nunome-Ζogan is one of the traditional inlay (zogan) techniques used in Japan and one of the most popular for the creation of large ornaments requiring the use of a small amount of gold.This technique is believed to have originated in Damascus, Syria. From the Middle East, it then spread throughout Europe, Africa and Eastern Asia. In Japan, this technique under the name of Nunome-Zogan, was used to decorate the hilt and the sheath of the swords in their various parts, as well as other accessories used by Samurai warriors, valuable boxes and precious hair ornaments for women.
Instructor: Elisa Deval | Jewelry artist
Workshop duration: 18 hours | 7-9 March 2025
Schedule: Friday 7/3 11.00-14.00 & 15.00-18.00
Saturday 8/3 11.00-14.00 & 15.00-18.00
Sunday 9/3 11.00-14.00 & 15.00-18.00
Number of participants: 5-8 people
Participation cost: 360 € + VAT 24%
For registration and more information, you can contact us at info@anamma.gr & +30 6972848300
Elisa Deval is a German-Italian jewellery artist based in Italy. She has been
creating and teaching since 2010 and her pieces have been exhibited
internationally. Her love for Japanese culture and artcrafts brought her
to Japan where she learned and practiced nunome-zogan technique
with professors Noboru Ando and Kimiaki Kageyama. Ever since she has
been teaching Nunome-zogan workshops throughout Europe and North
Africa. She’s one of the very few teachers of these techniques in Europe
and has helped in the promotion of their knowledge and application into
contemporary jewellery.
Elisa graduated at the Alchimia contemporary jewellery school in Florence.
Amongst her teachers: Manfred Bischoff, Manuel Vilhena, Lucia Massei and
Doris Maninger. Elisa taught at Alchimia contemporary jewellery school from
2014 to 2021.
