Golden Treasures: Japanese Gold Lacquer Boxes - Erik Thomsen

GlossaryTechniques:MakieThe distinctly Japanese gold lacquer technique in whichpowders of gold, other metals or minerals are sprinkled ontoa fresh coat of urushi lacquer. The sprinkled surface is thenpolished until it becomes glossy.HiramakieMakie which has been raised above the surrounding areawith several layers of lacquer.TakamakieMakie which has been raised and modeled with a mixture oflacquer and clay or charcoal. This is the same mixture used toprime the wood surface before applying the many layers oflacquer.TogidashiTechnique in which makie is first applied on the lacquerground and then completely covered with additional layersof black lacquer, hiding the makie decoration. The surfaceis subsequently polished with fine pumice and powders untilthe decoration reappears, now incorporated into the flatpolished surface.KanshitsuA method of building a body using only lacquer reinforcedwith hemp. Layers of hemp and lacquer are let dry over awood form. When the body has stiffened, it is removed fromthe wood form and receives further layers of lacquer andhemp until the desired thickness has been reached. Since nowood is inside the body, it is light and extremely durable.Surfaces:BokashiIn this technique very fine gold powder is sprinkled onto thewet lacquer surface with gradating density and subsequentlypolished. The bokashi gold dust gradates from solid gold atone end of the decorated area through faint gold to no goldpowder at the other end.HakemeDecoration of relief parallel lines created with a stiff brush onpartially hardened lacquer.KinjiSurface of fine gold dust which has been polished to an evensurface with or without gloss.KiriganeGold foil which has been cut into minute squares, trianglesor other shapes and placed onto the lacquer surface, formingbrilliant accents.44