Koftgari, How is it done?

kronckew · 16th March 2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Pringle

...and the best overview of the process I was able to find on the web is from Japan:
http://www.kougei.or.jp/english/crafts/0813/f0813.html
(click on 'production' for the step by step process)
...

very interesting website. i especially noted the bit where the deliberately oxidised steel is simmered for 30 minutes in tea for the tannins to stop the rust and blacken the oxide. i'll try that on my next rusty acquisition that is safe to immerse in tea......

Battara · 16th March 2007, 09:48 PM

With India/Middle Eastern koftgari, the area is engraved in cross hatch design and then the soft pure wire is hammered into place. It is technically an overlay.

Jens Nordlunde · 16th March 2007, 10:42 PM

The Indians used inlay, koftgari and something some call false koftgari. I will come back to the question to morrow, but now only mention that there was a very big difference in the costs of making these different kind of decorations, due to the work involved and due to the amount of gold, silver and copper which was seldom used.

Pukka Bundook · 17th March 2007, 04:54 AM

Jeff,
Thank you for the link, It goes a long way to explaining things!
I knew the gold or whatever was hammered onto a hatched back-ground, but didn't know if design was cut before or after.
Thank you for the reply.

Kronckew.
The tannin does sound an interesting thing to try!

Battara,
Yes i sort of understood this, but it was the details I wanted to know. Jeffs link shows at least One way of doing it,........Suppose there are lots of others!
Jens,
I look forward to your further reply!

Richard.

Jeff Pringle · 17th March 2007, 06:26 AM

There are a few ways to execute the technique, some traditions use a steel needle or scriber to crosshatch the ground. You can also erase extra crosshatching by burnishing, in the link it looks like they are using a punch to do most of the smoothing out.
There is not a whole lot of info on the technique out there, compared to other traditional crafts.

Pukka Bundook · 17th March 2007, 03:06 PM

Thanks for the further information Jeff.

I'd love to have a bash at this, but my main weapon at the moment is ignorance!
From the link you provided, I see that the shapes were cut out and applied, but can imagine that on very fine, repetetive designs, this would most likely not be possible, and was wondering if a film of silver/gold was applied more-or-less over the whole area, then either;
(A) a shaped punch used to "set" the pattern, the remainder being removed afterwards, or;
(B)the whole area being set, then the graver used to remove the overlay where it wasn't required.

The latter would make recovery of the excess overlay material difficult though.

What got me wondering about this, is I have a tulwar that was decorated with tiny crosses, originally over the entire hilt, and can't for the life of me see how these wee crosses could have been cut out, and applied with such uniform regularity.
In this hilt's case, where the silver was, and has worn off, the base - metal is higher, than between the crosses, as though a graver may have been used, Or an acid etch, to give depth to the finished product.

Any thoughts?

Thank you again for all your help Jeff.
Richard.

Jeff Pringle · 17th March 2007, 03:51 PM

You are welcome, Richard -
I've seen repetitive floral designs done with fine wire, doubled back on itself to make leaves & flowers, but I'm sure someone, somewhere has done the overlay and removal as you have outlined it, it's a flexible technique.

On the silver crosses, it sounds like it might be one of the other ways of overlay that Jens mentioned, if there is no evidence of cross hatching where the silver has worn off - but without a reasonably good photo, I can't speculate further. Can you get a close-up photo to post?

16th March 2007, 09:48 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,310	With India/Middle Eastern koftgari, the area is engraved in cross hatch design and then the soft pure wire is hammered into place. It is technically an overlay.

16th March 2007, 10:42 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	The Indians used inlay, koftgari and something some call false koftgari. I will come back to the question to morrow, but now only mention that there was a very big difference in the costs of making these different kind of decorations, due to the work involved and due to the amount of gold, silver and copper which was seldom used.

17th March 2007, 04:54 AM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Jeff, Thank you for the link, It goes a long way to explaining things! I knew the gold or whatever was hammered onto a hatched back-ground, but didn't know if design was cut before or after. Thank you for the reply. Kronckew. The tannin does sound an interesting thing to try! Battara, Yes i sort of understood this, but it was the details I wanted to know. Jeffs link shows at least One way of doing it,........Suppose there are lots of others! Jens, I look forward to your further reply! Richard.

17th March 2007, 06:26 AM	#5
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	There are a few ways to execute the technique, some traditions use a steel needle or scriber to crosshatch the ground. You can also erase extra crosshatching by burnishing, in the link it looks like they are using a punch to do most of the smoothing out. There is not a whole lot of info on the technique out there, compared to other traditional crafts.

17th March 2007, 03:06 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Thanks for the further information Jeff. I'd love to have a bash at this, but my main weapon at the moment is ignorance! From the link you provided, I see that the shapes were cut out and applied, but can imagine that on very fine, repetetive designs, this would most likely not be possible, and was wondering if a film of silver/gold was applied more-or-less over the whole area, then either; (A) a shaped punch used to "set" the pattern, the remainder being removed afterwards, or; (B)the whole area being set, then the graver used to remove the overlay where it wasn't required. The latter would make recovery of the excess overlay material difficult though. What got me wondering about this, is I have a tulwar that was decorated with tiny crosses, originally over the entire hilt, and can't for the life of me see how these wee crosses could have been cut out, and applied with such uniform regularity. In this hilt's case, where the silver was, and has worn off, the base - metal is higher, than between the crosses, as though a graver may have been used, Or an acid etch, to give depth to the finished product. Any thoughts? Thank you again for all your help Jeff. Richard.

17th March 2007, 03:51 PM	#7
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	You are welcome, Richard - I've seen repetitive floral designs done with fine wire, doubled back on itself to make leaves & flowers, but I'm sure someone, somewhere has done the overlay and removal as you have outlined it, it's a flexible technique. On the silver crosses, it sounds like it might be one of the other ways of overlay that Jens mentioned, if there is no evidence of cross hatching where the silver has worn off - but without a reasonably good photo, I can't speculate further. Can you get a close-up photo to post?