Japanese Motif Illusory Silver Necklace - TRANSMOTIF

[About the Beginning of TRANSMOTIF]
Transforming 3D object by Dr. Kokichi Sugihara, Professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo and Meiji University distinguished professor emeritus, the world's leading expert in the study of optical illusions, who has won the Best Illusion of the Year Contest four times, was born by chance from research into AI technology. TRANSMOTIF is also commercialised with the cooperation of Dr. Sugihara. His illusion works were also exhibited at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan in 2018.

[Motifs are Japanese traditional patterns]
2 designs are available; “Asanoha Nichirin (hemp leaf and the sun)” and “Masume Botan (grid and peony)”.
The first design’s motif is “Asanoha (hemp)” which is one of the Japanese traditional patterns.
Hemp is a plant that has been used in Shinto rituals since ancient times and is very familiar to the Japanese. Because hemp grows quickly, the hemp leaf pattern is often used as a kimono pattern to wish for the healthy growth of children. The hexagonal motif is also said to ward off evil. The “Asanoha Nichirin” silver necklace transforms the hemp leaf pattern into the symbol of the shining sun.
The second design is “Masume Botan (grid and peony)”. This design was the most popular in our previous ring series launched in Japan and now it has been adapted into a necklace. The necklace, which transforms from a Japanese straightforward Masume (grid) pattern into a large flower, is named after the peony, the king of the hundred flowers and the auspicious pattern which is also depicted on gorgeous kimono.
These Japanese traditional patterns have attracted attention as a kimono pattern worn by a popular anime character in recent years.

[Designs change depending on the angles]
The TRANSMOTIF necklace transforms most beautifully when viewed from approximately 45 degrees to the left or right. It is worn as a necklace and transforms when turned left or right. They are basic design items that go well with both Western and Japanese clothing.
The necklace also can be reflected in a mirror to see two shapes at once. Could you notice that this happens not only when it is reflected in a standing mirror but also on a polished floor surface? Looking at the image, notice the shape of the suspension ring connecting the chains has also been transformed. The number of pillars extending from the centre in the “Asanoha Nichirin” has changed, and the number of squares in “Masume Botan” has increased in the peony from nine in the grids.

[Careful finishing]
There are two types of finishes available for each design. The material is the same 925 silver (sterling silver), but there are two types of finishes: ‘shiny polished finish’ and ‘stardust finish’.
In the ‘shiny polished finish’, the corners are slightly rounded because each piece is carefully polished to shine by skilled Japanese craftsmen.
The 'stardust finish' is the latest processing method in which natural diamonds with a diameter of about 0.1 mm are sprayed onto the silver surface and ground at a sharp angle to give the surface a sparkling uneven finish. The edges of the diamonds are transferred onto the silver surface, creating a unique look as if it were sprinkled with diamonds.