Shudan - a conversation by hand

Shudan, a conversation by hand

Classical Japanese metalwork artist, Ford Hallam, demonstrates Yuwake, a traditional hot water casting procedure. The subsequent forging, yama-oroshi or "pounding down the mountain", of the water cast button transforms it into a tsuba. A guard for a Japanese sword.

Shudan, which translates as "hand conversation" from Japanese, refers to the intimate communion between the craftsman's hands and his materials.

This short film, part of a much longer documentary being made by Brad Schaeffer, was shown as part of 'The Power of Making' exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London last year.