Decorating Techniques using Natural Lacquer

Maki-e

This is the decorative technique of using urushi to draw designs on a lacquered surface onto which traditionally gold or silver powder is then sprinkled. It has a history of several hundred years and is one of the representative decorative techniques in Japanese urushi art.

Within maki-e there are a number of specialist techniques such as hira maki-e (flat collage-like designs), togidashi maki-e (sanded through designs), taka maki-e (raised designs) and shishiai maki-e (designs in relief). These can be used in a variety of ways to achieve many different kinds of finishes. The use of materials like shell, hyomon (the inlay of solid gold or silver shapes), and eggshell in this kind of decorative work is also the responsibility of the maki-e craftsman. 

Chinkin

Chinkin is a decorative technique that involves carving into the lacquered surface of lacquer-ware and filling these grooves with urushi and gold leaf or powder. A round-tipped chisel is the standard tool and is used for carving lines and grooves, but other special chisels are also used for different particular tasks such as carving shallow wider areas or gouging out deeper grooves into the surface. A variety of expressions can also be achieved by putting gold, silver or colored urushi into the grooves in layers and then surface is sanded and polished flat. This technique has attained a very high level of refinement in the Wajima area.