Box with design in mother-of-pearl inlay and makie "Near the end of the rainy season"

Description

• Category
  Lacquerware
• Materials
  Straight-grained cypress
• Dimensions
  H 8.4 x W 28.0 x D 31.0 cm
• Year presented
  2018
• Rarity
  Unique

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.

Metal sheet inlay

Metal sheet inlay (hyōmon) is a technique that involves cutting shapes out of thin sheets of gold, silver, or other metals to create an inlay motif.

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.

Silver hyomon

A decorating technique cutting silver sheets for the patterns and placing them on the lacquered surface

Kawarinuri

A lacquering technique using various techniques and materials

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Selected exhibitions

• The 65th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (2018)
• Selected