Gorgeous Maki-e Soup Bowl |
About Lacquerware
Today, the Orient’s best lacquerware is produced in Japan. Lacquer
is a varnish, which is a sap that exudes from a tree called
Rhusverniflua, which can be found throughout Asia. The cashew
and mango tree sap can also be used in the same manner as traditional
lacquer. However, sap coming from the Rhusverniflua tree in
Japan is said to be of the highest quality. Our lacquer contains
the purest ingredients, making it very durable to water, heat,
and acidic food.
Colors
One of lacquerware’s most attractive quality is in its aesthetic,
lustrous shine and hue of blackness. Japanese red “Shu” and
green are some of our most popular and beautiful colors. The
“Shu” color represents sacredness, and is often used in shrines,
temples, and palaces across the country. We are able to achieve
most desirable colors in the spectrum. However, black is considered
to be the most beautiful and symbolic of all Japanese colors.
Wabi-Sabi or the Zen concept of beauty is the soul of our line-ups.
The understated beauty and simplicity, makes lacquerware popular
all around the world.
Technique
Unique and very rare technical skills involved in decorating
lacquerware in Japan, had been highly praised and admired around
the world for over a century. The most famous technique is called
“Maki-e”, which uses lacquer as an adhesive to attach gold dust
on the surface. Depending on the art work, some are said to
take up to a year to finish. Other techniques include inlays,
which is a technique that uses a knife to engrave the lacquer
on the surface and then later inlay materials such as mother
of pearl.
Materials
The base for lacquerware is wood, and the types of wood used
are pine, zelkowa, Japanese cypress, cedar, birch and maple.
Bowls are shaped by placing a block of wood on a lathe, while
square boxes are made by applying parts of boards together.
Wood naturally expands and contracts, therefore, it requires
a very lengthy process to ensure quality materials. More recently,
due to advanced technical skills, we are able to achieve various
shapes, that were considered very difficult, by pouring resin
into wood powder. Some of the unique materials used are; cloth,
paper and rope.
Environmentally Friendly
In addition, lacquerware and its production are very environmentally
friendly. If lacquerware is kept and maintained properly, it
can be used for several decades, perhaps even more than 100
years. That is about the same time frame for a tree to fully
grow and be used for lacquerware production.
Proud
Tradition
Japan is a country known for being one of the top cars and electronics
manufacturer in the world. However, lacquerware production has
a much longer history in Japan. And it’s this rich history of
craftsmanship that we would like to share with people around
the world. |
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