Kanshitsu dish with design in makie and mother-of-pearl inlay. “Merciful light”
- Lacquerware
- Presented in 2020
- H 7.8 / ø 48.5 cm
- Not for Sale
| Category | Lacquerware |
|---|---|
| Year Presented | 2020 |
| Dimensions | H 7.8 / ø 48.5 cm |
| Exhibition | The 67th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition |
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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.
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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.
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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.
Living National Treasure Kazumi Murose
MUROSE has mastered various maki-e techniques such as togidashi-maki-e or takamaki-e to an exceptionally high degree, and with his perfect command of extensive and fine maki-e techniques he creates highly-rated works of great refinement and presence (taken from a review at the time of his acknowledgement as a holder of intangible cultural property). His works are characterized by a contemporary maki-e style incorporating colors into the conventional classic gold and black monotone.