- The Mokume Gane technique comes from an ancient Japanese metalworking art. Today, Mokume Gane is most often done using polymer clays such as Sculpey or Fimo, rather than metal. Thin layers of the clay are rolled out in various colors, stacked (like a lasagna) and then manipulated using clay-working tools. The stacked clay "lasagna," called a "cane" in bead-making parlance, is then cut into slices. The result is a series of beads in which colors swirl and circle in free-form patterns, resembling the grain of wood. The slices can be baked in a standard oven to harden.
- The professional bead maker may have interest in the Raku technique, which requires a kiln capable of reaching high temperatures. In addition to beadmaking, this technique can be used for pots, jars and even roof tiles. The clay base, in this case a basic clay bead, is first bisque fired (fired at a low temperature to harden the clay). The beads are removed from the kiln and cooled, painted with a Raku glaze, and then fired at high temperatures. As soon as the glaze melts, the beads are removed from the kiln and covered with organic matter, which reduces the oxygen available to the hot surface of the glaze. The results are smoky, iridescent colors.
- Miracle beads are another type of Japanese bead often used in conjunction with Raku or Mokume Gane beads. However, these beads are made from an acrylic polymer rather than a clay polymer. Miracle beads are built on a Lucite core, which is painted with a mirrored finish, then covered with layers of translucent lacquer. The result is an iridescent "bead within a bead" that can add an extra element of interest to clay beaded jewelry.
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