Janel Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Completed this evening, used a light coating of old Lemon oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 That's a beaut, Janel. I'm wondering how long it is and how you got the polish? I bet that's hard material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Bonham Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Janel, What a beautiful piece. It is a sculpture that begs to be held and caressed. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert weinstock Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Oh Janel, I think I'm In love. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janel Posted February 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Blush! Thanks friends. I forgot to write more about it. Tired then. I have not been back to make the final measurements yet, today was a doing day for the spouse and son. The Cicada is 1.5 inches long, from walrus tooth. It is hard, but not as hard a mammoth tusk, antler or bone. It is a very nice material to use. As I carved, the material was self polishing in places. Regardless, I tried to do the final scrapes with tools that were sharpened with a clean edge so no grooves remained. Sanding began with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000 in some places, sometimes wet. For the wings I tried using "Soft Scrub" liquid with a very slow revolution "1" on the NSK microgrinder, with a small felt wheel and then plexi scratch polish liquid with a little cotton wheel. These two steps smoothed out the panes between the veins, as well as the veins themselves. The plexi polish is a creamy liquid designed to remove the haze and minor scratches from plexi glas (my display case components). This polish is my end of the process gloss maker for amber and other really shiney materials after absolutely every scratch and dimple is taken care of. By then, I am REALLY ready to be done! The material is a little translucent, it glows when light shines from behind. I wanted to add depth to that, so I used some old lemon oil, hoping that it might soak in a little and dry deep to enhance the depth of the translucency. It is pretty small, but does feel good in the fingers. Thie himotoshi will make it a real netsuke, but is very small for that use. It could be on a single cord and worn around the neck. I do not try to direct the end use very much. Just hope for loving hands to keep pieces safe. On to something new tomorrow! I hope! Janel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DFogg Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Beautiful piece Janel. Another pleasant smelling oil that is recommended for ivories is baby oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janel Posted February 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Thanks to you. I thought about that while looking around the studio for oil, but our baby is a big fella now, and the baby oil is gone. Grampa's antique bottle of mineral oil, can't say how old it is, smelled like varinish and had almost been applied when the odor hit my nose! I knew that the house's selection of mineral oil was farther away than I wanted to go that late in the evening. If I went to the house, I would not have returned to finish things, so the old lemon oil was the choice. Funny how some decisions are made, though in the lineup the lemon oil was my first choice out of what we have on hand. I'll pick up some baby oil though and see how it works. I do like the scent of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DFogg Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 A treatment used for knife handles is to immerse the handle in mineral oil, baby oil, and place in a double boiler. Bring the water to a boil and it will raise the temp of the oil to a point where it penetrates deep into the ivory. This treatment helps to minized cracking and checking. The piece should be rubbed with mineral through out it's life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest katfen Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rik Palm Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 He's wonderful! I bet he does feel good in the hand. Rik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrett McCormack Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Gorgeous piece. If I saw it in a Sagemonoya catalog along with iwami school pieces by Bunshoju and Tomiharu I would just exclaim, "Yet another example of why I love the Iwami school!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janel Posted April 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Thanks again, Garrett. I am fond of Iwami school carvings, though I do not consciously think of following a style when I approach each subject. For the non-netsuke folks, Iwami school carvings are known for portraying subjects from their isolated island, carved from materials indiginous to their locael. Their manner of style is naturalistic. Janel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.