Schooling Tuna

Product Description for Schooling Tuna

Maker: Tom Sterling (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 1661
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Item weight: 5.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 20 oz.
Blade: Pressure Flaked Rainbow Obsidian
Bolster: Ziricote wood and maple
Handle: Stag antler, double inlaid eyes of translucent horn and ebony
Sheath: Black walnut display stand
Description: The team of Tom Sterling and JP Higgins is a formidable force. Joe Higgins, who has been flint knapping knives for over 10 years, created the blade of this masterpiece with precision. This skill is matched in the detailed handle created by Tom Sterling, who has brought his attention to detail learned as an internationally known netsuke artist to this piece. This exceptional knife has been in a private collection since it was made in the spring of 2002. It has been meticulously cared for and is in new condition. By all appearances, Sterling and Higgins could have made it yesterday!
The stag handle is sculpted to extreme detail, forming a very lifelike school of five tuna fish traveling toward the point, complete with detailed fins and gills. The tuna are carved in high relief with large areas of the high quality antler left natural. The negative areas of the natural antler surface texture are almost as interesting to view as the fish themselves. The eyes show the strongest evidence of Tom's experience with netsuke (small sculptural objects, or toggles, usually worn to suspend objects hung from the sash of the kimono). The cow horn eyes are translucent, revealing the ebony pupil creating a lifelike appearance. The stag is surrounded by ziricote and maple wood 'bolsters'.
The obsidian blade was precisely knapped by Higgins and shows tremendous skill. The obsidian shows its translucence as it approaches the cutting edge.
The flint knapped knife is accompanied by a black walnut display stand.
Truly exceptional!


Availability: Not currently available