Tokyo Ginki is a silverware craft produced in Tokyo's Taito, Arakawa, and Bunkyo wards, in which tea utensils, personal accessories, and sake vessels are made using traditional techniques such as forging (tankin), chasing/engraving (chokin), inlay work (kirihame), and soldering/brazing. Japan's history of silverware dates back a long way; records of silver tableware and sake vessels already appear in the Engishiki, a Heian-period legal code. From the mid-Edo period, silverware came into wide use among townspeople who had gained economic power, and specialist artisans known as kazari-shokunin (ornament makers) and shirogane-shi (silversmiths) developed their craft. From the Meiji era onward, Western refining techniques were also incorporated, and at the 1867 Paris Exposition, the sophistication of Japanese silverware is said to have astonished experts from abroad. Made with silver of at least 92.5% purity, the craft is characterized by techniques such as hammered texture (tsuchime), created by striking patterns with a metal hammer, and distinctive surface textures such as rock-grain (ganseki-me) and matting (goza-me). Today it remains widely loved as tea utensils, accessories, and other items that grow more comfortable to use with age. It was designated a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1979.
Origin
Japan's history of silverware dates back a long way; records of silver tableware and sake vessels already appear in the Engishiki (compiled in 916), a Heian-period legal code. In the Muromachi period, silver mines were discovered across the country and silver production flourished. In the Edo period, specialist artisans known as shirogane-shi (silversmiths) came to be highly valued by daimyo households and others, crafting personal accessories and furnishings—this is regarded as the origin of Tokyo Ginki.
History
From the mid-Edo period, silverware also came into wide use among townspeople who had gained economic power, and the craftsmanship of kazari-shokunin (ornament makers) developed further. From the Meiji era onward, refining methods and techniques introduced from the West were also incorporated, and at the 1867 Paris Exposition, the sophistication of Japanese silverware is said to have astonished even Europeans well versed in silver craftsmanship. It was designated a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1979.
Features
Tokyo Ginki is made using silver of at least 92.5% purity and is shaped and decorated through traditional techniques such as forging (uchimono), chasing/engraving, inlay work, and soldering. It is characterized by hammered texture (tsuchime) created with a metal hammer and distinctive surface finishes such as rock-grain and matting textures, with a simmering process and antiquing solutions used for color finishing to bring out a deep, rich luster. It is a craft that grows more comfortable to use and develops character with age.
Techniques
Forging (uchimono)
A technique of shaping a single silver sheet into a three-dimensional form by striking it with a metal hammer. Finishes such as hammered texture, which leaves the marks of striking as a pattern, produce an expression unique to this hand-forged process.
Chasing/engraving and inlay work
Delicate designs are applied through chasing, in which patterns are carved into the silver surface with a chisel, and inlay work, in which other metals are set into the surface for decoration.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Shaping
A silver sheet is shaped by hand into a three-dimensional form through forging (uchimono) or metal spinning.
- 2
Joining parts
Components are combined and joined using techniques such as silver soldering, riveting, and pin fastening.
- 3
Decoration
The surface is decorated by hand through pattern chasing with a chisel and inlay work.
- 4
Color finishing
A simmering process and antiquing solutions are used to finish the surface, bringing out silver's inherent luster and understated color.
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Artisans & Workshops
日伸貴金属
A Taito Ward workshop that carries on the techniques of silversmiths dating back to the Edo period. It creates products through forging starting from 99.9% pure silver ingots, and communicates the appeal of Tokyo Ginki widely through hands-on classes that draw on traditional techniques.
Official site →How to Buy
- 日伸貴金属
- Purchase silverware from the original brand 'SOUSHO,' created by a silversmith workshop with roots dating back to the Edo period. The lineup ranges widely from accessories such as bangles and rings to sake vessels.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
日伸貴金属
東京都台東区三筋1-3-13 伊藤ビル1F
Try making a pure silver ring or bangle under the guidance of a silversmith. Ring making starts from around 9,900 yen and bangle making from around 11,000 yen (tax included), taking about 90 to 105 minutes.
View details →FAQ
Q. What techniques are used to make Tokyo Ginki?
A. Four techniques are mainly used: forging (uchimono), in which a silver sheet is shaped by striking it with a metal hammer; chasing, in which patterns are carved with a chisel; inlay work, in which other metals are set into the surface; and soldering, used to join components.
Q. When was Tokyo Ginki designated a Traditional Craft?
A. It was designated a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1979. It is mainly produced in Taito, Arakawa, and Bunkyo wards.