《Characteristics》
Zougan (inlay) is a decoration technique to carve patterns on material such as metal, ware ceramic, or wood and etc., and insert gold, silver, and other materials into the carved parts there. Metal zougan is important as one of the metal-carving techniques and there are many zougan techniques including hira zougan (Japanese "hira" means flat and hira zougan is literally flat zougan; a method of making the surface of a zougan work flat after fitting metal into the model), which is the mainstream of "Kaga Zougan".

Beautiful and sophisticated patterns in Kaga zougan have an outstanding, keen feel for designs and such fine expression is supported by the minute methods. The craftsman carves the pattern part on the metallic basis material with a burin (tagane in Japanese), making the bottom wider than the surface (this method is called "ari wo kiru" in Japanese) and inserts and drives in a different metal in the part.
Then, the metallic part for the pattern is pressed and spread inside and does not come off itself. This bonding technology was closely employed especially in Kaga to enable to express variously on the metal for expressive work and gained a high reputation as for the solid work.

Of all the techniques, "Abumi" (stirrup) has been a synonym for Kaga zougan and well known for the scrupulous technique making sure that the metallic parts of Kaga zougan never come off, in addition to its excellent novel designs and gorgeousness.

[Traditional Craft Designated by Ishikawa Prefectural Governor]
Information provided by Kaga Zougan Tradition Research Laboratory, the Soukeikai Foundation

Translation by: Mie Nakajima, reviewed by Miwa Odagiri