NUTS
I was fortunate enough to be invited to take part in the Shunga exhibition in Japan last year. I only wish I had been able to see it myself but this and another carving were my representatives. I was given the original cluster of, I think, hazelnuts by a friend of mine, an antique restorer, who had found it in a drawer of a chest he had bought at auction. When he gave it to me I was convinced it was a miniature carving, barely 1" wide. However, when I shook it it rattled; quite obviously it was three real nuts that had somehow formed together like Siamese twins.Having decided on the design, the next problem was how to make this one rattle too. Quite how I achieved it I'm afraid I can't divulge yet although I shall to the person who buys it. Even under powerful magnification it is quite undetectable; although the principle is simple, technically it was quite a challenge.I have made one or two shunga carvings before but never quite this explicit. I suppose it is mild stuff compared to some that I have seen but for me it is daring enough. The carving is in stained boxwood, is 1.75" (4cm) wide, signed in 22ct gold and rattles beautifully!
I was fortunate enough to be invited to take part in the Shunga exhibition in Japan last year. I only wish I had been able to see it myself but this and another carving were my representatives. I was given the original cluster of, I think, hazelnuts by a friend of mine, an antique restorer, who had found it in a drawer of a chest he had bought at auction. When he gave it to me I was convinced it was a miniature carving, barely 1" wide. However, when I shook it it rattled; quite obviously it was three real nuts that had somehow formed together like Siamese twins.Having decided on the design, the next problem was how to make this one rattle too. Quite how I achieved it I'm afraid I can't divulge yet although I shall to the person who buys it. Even under powerful magnification it is quite undetectable; although the principle is simple, technically it was quite a challenge.I have made one or two shunga carvings before but never quite this explicit. I suppose it is mild stuff compared to some that I have seen but for me it is daring enough. The carving is in stained boxwood, is 1.75" (4cm) wide, signed in 22ct gold and rattles beautifully!
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