VARIOUS WORKS
Artistic Techniques
Glasswork
In glasswork, silica sand is melted in a high temperature furnace and manipulated into various forms. Designs may be carved into the finished glass.
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Blown glass
Blown glass (fukigarasu) is made by applying a gob of molten glass to the end of a stainless-steel tube called a blowpipe. Air is then blown into the tube, inflating the gob like a balloon and making it possible to manipulate the glass into various forms. The finished glass is placed in an annealing furnace and slowly cooled.
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Kiriko cut glass
Kiriko cut glass is made by using rotating grinders or diamond wheels to cut geometric patterns and curves into the surface of finished glass vessels. The patterns are evened and finished with fine polishing stones. Edo kiriko and Satsuma kiriko are especially famous.
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Copper wheel engraved glass
Designs are engraved into the surface of a glass vessel using small, copper engraving wheels. The copper engraving wheels are spun on a lathe and coated with grease and an abrasive grit or slurry. Using this technique, glass can be freely embellished with plants and animals or other motifs.
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Pâte de verre
Pâte de verre (French, “glass paste”) is made by first taking a plaster mold of a clay model. Next, glass powder is mixed with a special binding agent to create a paste. The resulting paste is put into the plaster mold and fired.
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Enameled glass
Designs are painted onto the surface of a glass vessel in enamel. Then the piece is fired in an electric furnace at a low temperature of around 600℃. Fired enamel displays a beautiful, glossy sheen.
Cloisonné enamel work
For cloisonné enamel (shippō, literally “seven treasures”) vitreous enamel glaze is applied to a design delineated by metal partitions (called cloisons in French) and fired in a kiln.
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Wire cloisonné
Wire cloisonné enamel (yūsen shippō) uses strips of silver wire to create partitions between areas of differently colored enamel. This is the basic method for producing cloisonné enamel ware.
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“Lost-base” plique-à-jour
“Lost-base” plique-à-jour (shōtai shippō) is prepared following the same steps as wired cloisonné, but at the end of the process the copper vessel is dissolved in acid, leaving behind only the enameled surface. The Japanese term shōtai means “omitted base.”
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“Muddy” cloisonné
“Muddy” cloisonné (doro shippō) is characterized by the use of lusterless, opaque enamels that produce a unique texture distinct from the glossy appearance of modern vitreous enamel. Brass wire, which goes well with the glaze, is used to divide the compartments on the piece and better emphasize the colors and shapes.
Kirikane cut foil embellishing
In kirikane, metal foil (generally gold) is cut into delicate strips or quadrilateral shapes and adhered to a surface to create a decorative pattern.
Hardstone carving
Carved hardstone (gyoku) is a category of art objects sculpted from semi-precious stones such as agate and mineral crystal.
Inkstone carving
Inkstones (suzuri) are carved from stone using a chisel. The carved inkstone is then polished and coated with a finish of wax or lacquer.
Sunago
Drawing patterns using gold leaf made into fine powder.
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Reference: Nihon Kōgeikai Higashi Nihon Shibu (Japan Kōgei Association Eastern Branch), ed., Dentō kōgei-tte nani? – miru, shiru, tanoshimu gaido bukku (What Are Traditional Crafts? –A Guidebook to Seeing, Learning, and Enjoying). Unsodo, 2013.