Makie Box "Trip to the Moon - Von Braun's Dream"

H 17.5 x W 13.9 x D 13.9 cm,Year.2025
Sold Out
Commission work, check artworks available for purchase, etc.

Keiji Onihira

1973 -
  • Lacquerware
  • Public Collections : Agency for Cultural Affairs etc.
  • Price Range Please Inquire

Description

Techniques Used

Dry lacquer

For works of dry lacquer (kanshitsu), first a clay form is created and plaster is used to take a mold of the form. Next, repeated layers of hemp cloth and lacquer are applied to the mold until they are built up to the desired thickness. Finally, the mold is removed and additional coats of lacquer are applied to finish the piece. The hemp fibers are strengthened when the lacquer bonds with them, making dry lacquer an excellent technique for creating sturdy forms with a significant degree of freedom.

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.

Mother-of-pearl inlay (Raden)

Mother-of-pearl inlay (Raden) is a decorative technique that uses the iridescent inner layer of abalone shell, turban shell, pearl oyster shell, or other mollusk shells. The technique came to Japan from China 1,300 years ago, and pieces featuring mother-of-pearl inlay are included among the artifacts at the Shōsōin Repository in Nara.

Eggshell inlay

Eggshell inlays (rankaku) are created by applying finely crushed eggshells to painted lacquer motifs. The eggshells make it possible to create vivid whites, a color that is difficult to reproduce with colored lacquer. Normally, the shells of quail eggs are used.

Selected exhibitions

  • The 43rd Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (2025)
  • Selected
Keiji Onihira

Please feel free to contact us to commission work, check artworks available for purchase etc.