Box with design in urushi carving. “Distant”

Tatsuya Matsumoto

Producing lacquer art using urushi lacquer carving techniques. Urushi carving is a technique that takes much time and effort. Color lacquer is applied a few dozen times. The process of applying lacquer and polishing is repeated. A carving knife specially made for urushi carving is used to carve the patterns on the surface where the layers of color urushi lacquer are applied. He uses realistic patterns such as plants and flowers, abstract, geometric patterns, saihi carvings (slanting the knife when carving to show the different colored layers) and swirling patterns for his designs.