ABOUT SHIBUICHI: Shibuichi is an alloy of silver and copper which can be patinated into a range of subtle muted shades of blue or green. Its name means "one-fourth" in Japanese and indicates the standard formulation of one part silver to four parts copper, though this may be varied according to the desired effect. For most of its history, shibuichi was mostly used to ornament various fittings for katana until the Meiji reforms, when most sword makers began to make purely decorative objects instead. Similar alloys have been used elsewhere but the use of shibuichi to achieve different colored patinas has remained nearly unknown outside Japan, despite recent interest from artisans in the West.   Price: $1,195   Stock #BB91