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MAKI-E

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photo <i>Maki-e</i>

Description

Maki-e (literally “sprinkled pictures”) is a representative lacquerware technique that originated in Japan around 1,200 years ago. Maki-e is done by painting lacquer motifs on the surface of a piece using a fine brush and then sprinkling gold powder onto the lacquer before it hardens, producing luxurious decorations.

There are various styles of maki-e, including togidashi maki-e (burnished maki-e), hiramaki-e (flat maki-e), and takamaki-e (raised maki-e). Works of maki-e have been desirable export items since over 400 years ago, when many pieces crossed to Europe and elsewhere.

Maki-e is a lavish technique for producing brilliant gold and silver motifs on a lacquer ground, and is frequently used in conjunction with other decorative techniques such as mother-of-pearl inlay (Raden), metal inlay (hyōmon), and eggshell inlay (rankaku).

Process for togidashi maki-e

  • 1.Motifs are painted in lacquer.
  • 2.Gold or silver powder is sprinkled on top of the lacquer.
  • 3.A top coat of lacquer is applied and then polished down to reveal the design.
  • 4.The piece is burnished with powdered deer antler and completed.
  • 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.
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