Plague of Frogs

Product Description for Plague of Frogs

Maker: Tom Sterling (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 1804
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 8.00 in.
Total length: 17.50 in.
Blade height (at heel): 2.75 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.63 in.
Item weight: 13.28 oz.
Shipment weight: 50 oz.
Blade: Percussion-knapped, crosscut silver sheen obsidian from central Oregon with diagonal lines visible
Bolster: Maple with rawhide wrap
Handle: American black walnut, maple, yew (Pacific), fossil ivory inlays with carved frogs
Description: This is an outstanding large percussion knapped artwork. 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.
The pyrographed and polychomed handle displays a highly carved tree frog on the front with inlaid eyes of fossil ivory and ebony. 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 fossil mammoth ivory eyes are slightly translucent, surrounding the ebony pupil with a very lifelike appearance. There is a Northwest native American style frog on the obverse. Many frogs (with fossil ivory inlaid eyes), eggs, and tadpoles are pyrographed onto the handle on both sides. This exquisite presentation piece comes with an American black walnut display stand.


Availability: Not currently available