|
[IBC] Just Curious
Xref: kermit rec.arts.bonsai:75510
Can anyone tell me how long wire has been used for bonsai training? I was under the impression it became common in the early 20th Century, when copper wire started being widely manufactured for electricity. Somebody tried to tell me it goes back earlier than that. What are the facts? Iris ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Just Curious
wrote:
Can anyone tell me how long wire has been used for bonsai training? I was under the impression it became common in the early 20th Century, when copper wire started being widely manufactured for electricity. Somebody tried to tell me it goes back earlier than that. What are the facts? Iris Iris: The manufacturing of wire from various metals dates back to the 1830's I believe, although I may be wrong on that. It was used for applications other than electricity. I've been under the impression that wire has been used in bonsai for about a century (the time frame you suggest) since the time that the art became more refined with cross pollenization between Japan and the West. My guess is that copper wire would have been easily available in Japan in the later 19th and early 20th centuries with the rapid modernization of industry going on at the time. Craig Cowing NY Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Just Curious
The manufacturing of wire from various metals dates back to the 1830's I believe, although I may be wrong on that. It was used for applications other than electricity. The original question did not specify copper, but copper has been in use for some 10,000 years. Wire itself has a similarly ancient history and found use in tools, musical instruments, weapons and jewelry. Ancient Egyptian dentists were using gold wire to create dental bridges back a couple millennia BC! http://tinyurl.com/yvzlg Iron wire was produced in 400AD http://tinyurl.com/2rohh Drawing wire became known in the 14th century Now, with all that, I would be very surprised if the use of wire to wrap and bend branches has been much longer than a century. That's based strictly on my casual analysis of photographs and drawings of the type of refinement styling that was being done in the past. Other uses of wire, including tie downs, turnbuckles and hanging stones no doubt preceded this. BONSAI by Kyuzo Murata (1960) discusses wiring in some detail. My oldest English-language book on the subject, Bonsai - Miniature Potted Trees by Norio Kobayashi (1950) Gives the topic one paragraph in 177 pages! Regards, Matt -- TreeBay - Tips:5Ē Advice:Free -Carpe Tree-um- (Seize the bonsai!) 'TreeBay Bonsai Tools & Supplies' (http://www.TreeBay.com) Thank you for supporting bonsaiTALK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TreeBay's Profile: http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/member.p...tinfo&userid=5 View this thread: http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/showthre...?threadid=7217 |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:13 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter