Hannya Wabori Art Panel

Wada Chokin Kobo is a workshop in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, devoted to chokin — the art of engraving pictures into metal with a tagane chisel and a hammer. Shunsuke Wada, the fourth-generation craftsman, carries on the technique.

The figure engraved here is Hannya, a mask from Noh theater. Said to be modeled on the face of a woman turned demon by jealousy and resentment, it has long been believed to drive away evil spirits and protect its owner. Hannya also means "wisdom," making it a symbol of the discerning insight that sees things exactly as they are.

The brass plate that forms the base is a traditional Takaoka craft, blackened by an artisan through oxidation coloring. Into this black surface, the chisel was struck to carve the Hannya. Only hand carving can produce lines cut deep enough to catch the light and gleam.

So that you can appreciate the character of each carved edge, the piece is not framed behind acrylic or glass. It is an art panel ready to hang on the wall as it is.

Because each piece is carved by hand, the expression of the engraving and the tone of the black vary slightly from one to the next. Enjoy the shifting shadows as the light moves across it, and the way the brass deepens with time.