Tea Container with Design in Jigoemon Lacquering "Light of Dawn - Python VIII"

Description

• Category
  Lacquerware
• Materials
  Gold powder, Silver powder, Pigments
• Dimensions
  H 6.8 / ø 6.7 cm
• Year presented
  2024
• Rarity
  Unique
• Paulownia Box
  Included
• Artist Signature
  Signed (name of artwork, paulownia box)
• Collection of
  Private Owner

Techniques Used

Maki-e

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.

Lacquering

Lacquering (kyūshitsu) is the art of applying lacquer to a substrate using spatulas or brushes. The technique includes a range of processes, from reinforcing the substrate with cloth to building up the foundation and applying the middle- and top-coats. The final coat can be left as is (nuritate), polished with charcoal to a high-gloss finish (roiro shiage), or given one of several hundred alternative (kawarinuri) finishes. Lacquer application is known for both its technical difficulty and richly expressive qualities.

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Awards received

• The 63rd Toyama Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (2024)
• Toyama Prefecture Governer Award

Comment on Award

I was inspired by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's words "the snake which cannot cast its skin has to die", and drew the moment of the shedding on this cylindrical tea container with the opening in the middle. I used the patterns of the snake skin in the middle to resemble the path of lacquer art, and used red, which is the original color of lacquerware, instead of white. I expressed the light and hope towards the future with the golden dots drawn from the sides towards the back. Encouraged by this award, I will continue to "shed my skin and expand and deepen" my techniques.

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