Rectangular box of kanshitsu with kinma and mother-of-pearl inlay. “Clear stream”
- Lacquerware
- Presented in 2013
- H 7.5 x W 12.0 x D 40.5 cm
- Sold Out
| Category | Lacquerware |
|---|---|
| Year Presented | 2013 |
| Dimensions | H 7.5 x W 12.0 x D 40.5 cm |
| Exhibition | The 60th 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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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.
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Kinma
There are three basic variations of kinma based on the method used for cutting the motifs: line cutting, dot cutting, and a combination of the two. All three types use a special carving blade known as a kinma ken. Originally, kinma only consisted of motifs made of incised lines. However, by combining a variety of colored lacquers and cutting techniques, the art has lent itself to increasingly complex designs.
Miyuki Inoue
Creating lacquerware using kinma and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay).