The Delicate Balance of Strength and Emotion Transforms Rugged Metalinto Beautiful Curves

A machine known as a spinning lathe secures the metal mold, clamping a circularly cut sheet of copper in place. Once the lathe starts rotating, a metal spoon (Hera-bo) is leveraged against the copper— similar to shaping pottery on a wheel, the flat copper sheet swiftly takes on a curved form, transforming into the shape of a vase.

"I've been in this profession since I left school, as my family business was metal spinning," says Nishiura, a craftsman with over 40 years of experience in metal spinning. Although he once ran his own metal spinning workshop, he joined forces with Ando Cloisonne at their request, eager to pass on his skills. "I might be the only one left in this area known as a metal spinning artisan," he remarks, indicating that this technique is a rare skill mastered by only a few.

Hiroi watches as Nishiura skillfully performs metal spinning on a copper plate. Hiroi joined Ando Cloisonne at the age of 18 and has spent 20 years honing his skills, mainly in wiring and polishing. Aiming to inherit the specialized role of metal spinning, a task only a few can undertake, Hiroi has been building his career in this process under Nishiura's guidance. Reflecting on his initial foray into metal spinning, Hiroi recalls, "I couldn't grasp the right amount of force to use, and I was in constant pain from the physical effort." Now, after about three years, he increasingly handles the process on his own.

Yet, he admires his mentor, noting, "Even when shaping the same substrate, Mr. Nishiura uses fewer pushes with the metal spoon. He also completes the work more quickly." Nishiura responds, "The environment I grew up in was all about producing in quantity. I want the younger generation to take their time and try different things, even if it takes longer at first."

Metal spinning artisans are required to shape products to the desired quality and quantity in a short amount of time according to orders. While press forming—applying pressure with machines—has the advantage in mass production, metal spinning can be quicker for certain lot sizes, and without leaving any processing marks, it allows for a more beautiful finish. Most importantly, as Nishiura says, "The charm of cloisonne lies in its high degree of freedom," making it an essential process for creating unique masterpieces, and this joy becomes the driving force for metal spinning artisans.

Nishiura continues, "Ando Cloisonne has come this far by preserving the artisans and their techniques, maintaining high quality, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Even with processes other manufacturers have given up on, we have the confidence to accomplish them."