WAJIMA-NURI (LACQUERWARE)

Explanatory Notes

Name of the work:
Sparkle

At Chirihama Beach in autumn, the calm sea is lit by the sun as it slowly sets, and the water’s surface sparkles brightly. The katagiri carving technique (carving obliquely from one side) is frequently used to boldly express the glittering of sunlight.

WAJIMA-NURI (LACQUERWARE)
HISTORY & FEATURES

There are legends about the origin of Wajima-nuri : it is said to have been introduced from China about 1,000 years ago, developed by a priest of Negoroji Temple in the early 15th century, or to have originated from wooden cups called goroku-wan produced in the village of Yanagida-mura. Whatever the origin, it is clear that there were lacquer coaters in Wajima in 1476. Jinoko powder (made from a natural sedimentary rock called diatomaceous earth), which strengthens lacquerware, was used in 1582 when the lord of the Kaga clan visited Wajima, and the technique of chinkin (sunken gold decoration) was perfected in the 18th century. The maki-e gold-relief technique was introduced from Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture in the early 19th century.
The beauty and high durability resulting from the sophisticated techniques used to make Wajima-nuri make it one of the outstanding lacquerwares of Japan.