Category Archives: Netsuke

Bear Skull Blade Fetish Tutorial

A new project, with a recycled tiny bear skull carved from antler I found hidden away in a forgotten box. I can no longer carve organic materials for health reasons, and this will be the last of my wood, antler … Continue reading

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Steelhead and Buckskin Pouch – for Renee

Renee wanted to know if I had any of these little carved moose antler fish for sale.  Unfortunately, for health reasons I no longer carve any kind of natural materials, so I don’t have any of the fish for sale. … Continue reading

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Engraving and Carving Antler – Orca Knife

Here’s my latest knife. It’s a tiny deer antler Orca done in NW Native American style. The knife is 3 3/16 inches overall, with a 1 1/4 inch long 1075 carbon steel through-tang blade. The antler has been aged with … Continue reading

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Press-Forming Adventures Part 5

Today I’m working on making a pendant from the little silver hummingbird skull I press formed during our last visit.  I’m engraving a piece of Grade 2 titanium for the back of the pendant.  I’m hoping the gray color of … Continue reading

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Making a Kagamibuta Netsuke Bowl Part 4

Now it’s time to color our antler kagamibuta bowl.  I’ll be soaking the antler first in a hot, but relatively weak solution of potassium permanganate (KMnO4), then polishing to remove much of the color.  I’ll repeat this a number of … Continue reading

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Making a Kagamibuta Netsuke Bowl Part 3

Above, I’ve installed the hand turning tool rest on the cross slide of the lathe, and begun establishing the outer curve of the bowl with small hand turning tools.  I repeatedly STOP the lathe and hold the original ivory bowl … Continue reading

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Making a Kagamibuta Netsuke Bowl Part 2

Above, I’ve drilled the proper sized hole through the antler cylinder.  The cord that connects to the lid will eventually pass through here.  Incidentally, using a metal-cutting lathe for these parts of the bowl-turning process really helps with accuracy and … Continue reading

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Making a Kagamibuta Netsuke Bowl Part 1

I was approached by a client to turn a replacement bowl for a lovely kagamibuta netsuke that had a cracked original ivory bowl.  In my life with netsuke, I’ve found that cracked ivory, especially kagamibuta netsuke bowls, is very common. … Continue reading

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