I closed my custom order book a couple of years ago but I still regularly get asked to make custom knives. I always say no. Almost always. Then I got an e-mail from a guy who suggested a project I couldn't resist!
He wanted me to make him a knife which he could give to his wife for her birthday and keep a little ink memento for himself . I am a bit of a romantic too and was game for a collaboration with a 5th generation Chef and a fellow Artist to make two knives that would last a lifetime.
The challenge was to design and make a 3D knife that would look good 2D, with Abalone shell, to a deadine. It had to fit onto his left forearm so he could pretend pick it up with his right hand ready to slice any pretend food. So a 4'' kitchen knife then....
The all important outline included a hooked handle and forged blade. I wanted to include some recognisably Ferraby details:
- Olive - My No.1 handle material. Why? (see blog)
- Bog Oak - My second favourite. Its 7000yrs old, almost as hard as stone and is ethically totally sound.
- Steel Wave - My signature mark. Symbol of the artists eternal fight against the straight line.
The shape changed a bit as it felt better in the hand. The 3D sculpting process is always intuitive and allows your inner self to find the knife in the wood. The colours and textures are all about balancing.
You can see the blues and greens of the Abalone are complimented by the golden heart wood and mirrored by the resin, the dark blue next to the silver wave (which looks black) and of course the blue sky reflected in the blade. The Bog Oak is balanced with the black denim and coconut fibre bolster lip. The silver wave is balanced with the Sterling Silver circlet that houses the Abalone.
I am lucky enough to be pals with one of the best Artist Tattoists - Dr Viper (Max). He popped round my place and took a great photo from which he produced the very fine graphic above.
 | Meanwhile I was designing the lazer etching for the blade. Ali is his wife of course. They had spent 14 years in New Zealand which is where the Abalone sea molusk resides. |
Rene came to Sheffield for the day and we were tempted to write 'HAND DRAWN IN SHEFFIELD' instead of my HANDFORGED blade mark. There is only so much space on a blade though and though Max's peepers are first class it would be so small it would be illedgable. Oh well.
 | So there we are, a very pleasing project. It was great the way Rene trusted me with all the design and I could trust Max to produce a lifelong image we could all be proud of. His eye for detail is amazing. I didn't know a tattoo could be this realistic. A great idea from Rene, fine inking from Max and another feather in the cap for me! All my knives have names, so here's to the Blue Lady. |
