Aizu Lacquerware
Aizu is located in the southern part of the Tohoku region and is known as a place where nature and history are richly preserved and a unique culture takes root. The Aizu region is a basin surrounded by rich nature and has become a famous lacquerware production area where the entire process from the production of materials, such as cultivating lacquer trees, collecting sap, and cutting nearby trees, to the processing and finishing of lacquerware can be done locally. Aizu lacquerware has continued to grow up to the present day, as it has always proactively adopted the latest technology in addition to the traditional techniques that have survived for over 400 years.
Aizu lacquerware is characterized by its auspicious designs and the beauty of various decorations. The grooves on the surface of the lacquerware are carved more finely and shallowly than in lacquerware from other regions, the decorations give a softer look. "Keshi-fun-makie" is a technique representative of Aizu lacquerware, in which the work is painted with a brush full of lacquer and then sprinkled with the finest gold powder using cotton buds while checking the drying process.
Making the Wooden Base
Lacquerware is made by pre-processing the wooden base, applying lacquer, and decorating it. Most of the lacquerware sold these days is made of plastic, but the original lacquerware is made of wood. The trees used as raw materials are grown for decades to hundreds of years, and after they are cut down, they are dried for several years to decades. The wood craftsman sees the best time to use the wood and creates the best product for it.
Making the Base
This is the process of shaping the wood, hiding scratches, and reinforcing weak points. It is said that the strength of lacquerware depends on the preparation of the base.A mixture of persimmon tannin and wood powder is applied to the cracks in the wood, and the corners and edges of the wood are polished to make it easier for the lacquer to adhere. The process of applying clay and persimmon tannin, drying, and polishing is repeated many times until the surface is sufficiently smooth. This time-consuming and patient process produces beautiful, shiny lacquerware.
Top Coating
At this point, the main work of making lacquerware finally begins. After applying black lacquer and repeating the polishing process twice, the finishing lacquer is applied. The plain, undecorated lacquerware is now complete. The process of lacquering is extremely nerve-wracking, so the lacquerer works alone with concentration. The enzymes contained in the lacquer use the moisture and oxygen in the air during the solidification process. Japan's rainy climate is ideal for this lacquer.
Maki-e
A pattern or picture is drawn on the lacquerware with a brush. Gold or silver powder is then sprinkled on top of the lacquer and left to dry to reveal the picture or pattern. This is a decorative technique that makes use of the adhesive nature of lacquer, and any fine line can be drawn out beautifully. A thin layer of lacquer is then applied to the surface and polished to complete the wonderful maki-e decoration.
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