Letter Box of Rantai with Design in Makie and Zonsei "Rich Harvest"
- Lacquerware
- Presented in 2007
- Contact for Price
| Category | Lacquerware |
|---|---|
| Year Presented | 2007 |
| Exhibition | The 54th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition |
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Lacquered bamboo
Bamboo is ideal for weaving various forms. The bamboo is split into thin strips, peeled, and coated with multiple layers of lacquer. Pieces of basketry made from lacquered bamboo (known as rantai) are lightweight and durable.
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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.
Takashi Tsuji
I was born and raised in a family of makie lacquerers; that is three generations from my great-grandfather. This is quite rare in Kagawa Prefecture, and naturally, I took up the path of urushi art in high school and junior college. My father was the most pleased with my progress, and after he died from an illness, I continued my studies under urushi artist OTA Hitoshi, and learned the technique of rantai kinma (incised and color-filled decoration on a woven bamboo core). While learning, I came to realize my life’s vocation is to create my own style, a fusion of my father’s colored maki-e and the master OTA’s rantai techniques.