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Ball Mill Outlet | Ashio Copper Mine

Year
2016
Location
Ashio, Tochigi, Japan
Edition
Open edition
Process
Giclée
Substrate
Ilford Smooth Cotton Rag 310gsm
Certificate
✓ Certificate of Authenticity included

A cast iron ball mill drum sits at the centre of the processing floor, its toothed ring gear and hollow discharge trunnion facing the camera. Steel mesh grating, grinding balls, and collapsed pipework cover the ground below.

Read the story behind this series →
Size Guide

Size Guide

Size: XS
Type: Unframed
Colour: N/A

Add 2 or more prints — 10% off applied at checkout.

A large ball mill sits at the centre of a corrugated iron processing shed. Heavy chains hang from a yellow overhead crane. The mill's open discharge end faces forward, its bore dark and hollow. Steel mesh grating covers the floor, buckled and split where pipes have collapsed beneath it. Green paint peels from structural columns. Dust and rubble settle across every surface. Weak light filters through high clerestory windows, catching the rust on a coupling flange to the right. The Ashio Copper Mine in Tochigi Prefecture operated from 1610 until its closure in 1973. At peak production in the early twentieth century, it was Japan's largest copper mine. The refining complex processed thousands of tonnes of ore through crushing, grinding, and flotation. Severe pollution from its smelting operations poisoned the Watarase River system, triggering one of Japan's first major environmental protests in the 1890s.

Limited Editions — Sizes M, L, XL
Each size is a fixed edition, individually numbered and signed.
The edition count covers all framing variations combined (unframed, framed, glass-mounted).
Once sold out, the edition is closed and never reproduced.

Open Editions — Sizes XS, S
Unnumbered, but personally signed and titled by Brett Patman.
Printed on the same Canson® cotton rag stock as the limited editions.
Sizes:
XS — 300 × 200mm (Open Edition)
S — 420 × 300mm (Open Edition)
M — 600 × 400mm (Limited Edition of 100)
L — 841 × 594mm (Limited Edition of 50)
XL — 1189 × 841mm (Limited Edition of 25)

Framing:
Unframed — white border, signed, titled, dated, and numbered on the reverse.
Framed — sustainably sourced timber in raw, white, or black finish.
Glass print — 6mm toughened low-iron glass, bevelled edge, concealed mount.
Acrylic block — freestanding, 20 × 30 × 3cm, suited to desktops and shelves.
Custom framing available on request.
Framed & Unframed: Ilford Smooth Cotton Rag 310gsm — acid-free, archival cotton stock.
Glass prints: Ilford Galerie Metallic Gloss 260gsm — face-mounted to 6mm toughened glass.
Ink: Epson UltraChrome™ HD archival pigment inks.
Longevity: 100+ year fade resistance under normal display conditions.
Handle unframed prints with clean, dry hands.
Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture.
Clean glass and acrylic surfaces with a soft, dry cloth.
Store unframed prints flat or rolled in a cool, dry place.
Unframed prints: 5–10 business days.
Framed and glass prints: 10–20 business days.

Worldwide shipping. Tracking provided on all orders.
Unframed prints ship in rigid mailers or protective tubes.
Framed and glass works are custom-crated for transit.
All prints are made to order and non-refundable.
If your order arrives damaged, contact us within 7 days with photos. We will replace it at no charge.
If packaging is visibly damaged on arrival, ask the carrier to note it before you sign.