Shibuichi

Naming and Composition

• Shibuichi means one-fourth in Japanese
• Indicates the standard formulation of one part silver to three parts copper
• Variants of the alloy have specific names, such as rogin
• The metal, especially the paler shades, may be named differently
• The desired effect may cause variations in the alloy composition
• Shibuichi can range from 5% silver to 95% copper
• Different alloy compositions can achieve a wide range of colors
• Dark grey can be achieved with 90% copper and 10% silver
• Lighter greys can be achieved with 70% copper and 30% silver
• Kuro-shibuichi is a mixture of shibuichi, shakudō, and gold

History and Use

• First mentioned in the early 18th century in documents from the State Mint
• Mostly used to ornament fittings for Japanese swords
• Meiji reforms led to its use in purely decorative objects
• Often used in mokume-gane combinations
• Interest in shibuichi outside Japan has grown in recent years

Related Concepts

• Kuromido - historically Japanese copper-arsenic alloy
• Mokume-gane - Japanese mixed-metal laminate
• Japanese sword - type of traditionally made sword from Japan
• Corinthian bronze - highly valuable metal alloy in classical antiquity

References

• Art Jewelry Magazine, March 2010
• Bradbury, F.W. (2012). I Made That: Japanese Metalwork - Shibuichi
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External Resources

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shibuichi

Shibuichi Data Sources