Cost: $275
When:
Saturday October 21, 2023 10:00am - 2:00pm (SOLD OUT)

Saturday October 21, 2023 3:00pm - 7:00pm (SOLD OUT)

Sunday October 22, 2023 10:00am - 2:00pm (SOLD OUT)

Duration: 4 Hours

WHAT TO EXPECT
Mitsuro Hikime -- 蜜蝋引き目 -- has been around for centuries, enjoyed by jewellery artists and jewellery lovers all across Japan. Mitsuro-Hikime roughly translates to honey (mitsu) wax (ro) drawing (hiki) texture (me). Working with this blended wax is an ancient art form, dating back more than 1,300 years in Japan.

Lost wax casting is a well-known process in the jewellery industry, but Mitsuro-Hikime wax is unique because it must be warmed slowly with your hands to become malleable. After pulling and folding the wax into itself, it forms unique striations. This mesmerising wax process allows you to create beautifully flowing sculptural forms with organic texture.

MEET THE TUTOR
Our international guest tutor, Anna Zeibig, is a former interior designer turned jewellery artist from Budapest. After completing her studies in jewellery in Madrid, Spain, Budapest and Hungary she established Anna Zeibig Jewelry in 2019. Since then, she has showcased her work at various international exhibitions and galleries in Athens, London, Shanghai, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Vienna, Milan, Torino, Valencia, Budapest, and Madrid.

Anna has become a Mitsuro-Hikime guru, training with a Japanese master and was the first to teach this technique in Hungary. Anna is one of the few jewellery artists in the world who create jewellery using Mitsuro-Hikime. She has developed her own wax recipe and honed her skills in this technique over the past few years. Her extraordinary pieces don’t follow any kind of fashion line, they are rather independent, edgy and uncategorized.

ABOUT THE COURSE
Prerequisite
Suitable for the absolute beginner or jeweller who hasn’t ventured into Mitsuro-Hikime wax work or advanced students who wish to improve upon pre-existing skills.

Course Objectives
During this Taster session, you will learn how to use Mitsuro wax to create beautifully individual jewellery. Working with Mitsuro-Hikime will open many possibilities for you, to create a one-off piece or start a new collection.

Wax recipe formula - Take home Anna’s specially developed wax recipe.

Create forms - Shape your own wax for rings, earrings, bracelets.

Techniques in wax - Create organic and irregular shapes, interesting textures, spontaneous shapes and surface effects.

Design - Learn composition and preparation of your wax. Master the technique of pulling, twisting, and manipulation to combine the lines and curves that Mitsuro-Hikime can create.

Preparing the casting - Placement of the sprues.

Trouble shooting - Tips and tricks to avoid the wax becoming brittle once it has hardened.

Basic methods of model production - Form the signature striated texture.

Methods of casting - We will provide additional resources and information to recreate this process.

COURSE OUTCOMES
This course begins with a brief presentation, short, structured technical exercises and then fabricating, decorating and joining will be demonstrated.

While you may not be able to take home a finished metal piece of jewellery on the day, don’t worry, you will have plenty of time to experiment with this technique, speak with Anna and work on your own models for casting. These can be cast independently, or The Bench can arrange casting and/or provide supplier information.

Discussion between tutor and the students as a group and as individuals will take place, to guide you to improve your skills.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
A materials pack, including Mitsuro wax, is supplied. Anna’s Mitsuro-Hikime recipe, course notes, supplier information, international industry connections & more.

The Bench will provide a light lunch - providing additional opportunities to chat with Anna about her practice and working with this beautiful wax technique.

Everything is provided for you however students will need to bring a plastic container with a lid for taking home their finished waxes.
The Bench will have extra containers.

DISCOVER MORE JEWELLERY BY ANNA
www.annazeibig.com/jewelry
facebook.com/annazeibigjewelry
instagram.com/annazeibigjewelry