Samurai facial armour often featured a fierce mouth shape. Those covering the face from the nose downwere sometimes called Menpo. The 'wood grain metal' in the center of this piece was re worked several times and when the final shape appeared I chose to cut back the traditional Niage patina to
reveal an extra line of contrast. When I'd done so, the copper oxide began to develop and I aided it with
painstakingly reapplied salt and vinegar. The red beech was scorched to try and find an analogous hue
to the kuromido. I take great pleasure in managing such colour matches.