Ritsuzan Tomita Pine Red Side Plate Set

These Echizen Lacquerware side plates are exquisite items combining the refined matte shine of red lacquer with the detailed gold designs made with "Chinkin" done by the second generation Ritsuzan Tomita, a renowned Chinkin craftsman.

The smooth and even coat of the deep red lacquer is painted using a technique called "Negoro," a method of lacquering by which a black lacquer underneath the red lacquer is visible. The more it is used, the more the black lacquer will become visible, giving the plate an added vintage taste. 

Chinkin is a traditional technique used to create detailed designs with gold on lacquerware surfaces. Unlike Maki-e, where gold leaves and powder are directly applied to a surface, for Chinkin, shallow and very thin grooves are made onto the surface, which are then filled with gold leaves and powder. This method gives the gold designs an almost "sunken" appearance on the beautiful lacquerware surface as the literal definition of Chinkin is "sunken gold" in Japanese. 

The wide pine branches depicted on these plates are called "Suehiro" pines which symbolize auspiciousness. As these designs are made by hand, each pine branch is unique with the silver leaves applied on different places on the branch. These thin and even lines of the pine needles and the detailed shape of the pine cones are the result of high-quality craftsmanship. The Japanese calligraphy on the bottom of the stem is the signature of Ritsuzan Tomita. 

These plates are perfect for entertaining guests on celebratory occasions such as the New Year or milestone birthdays. They can also be used to serve Japanese sweets when serving matcha tea or Japanese green tea to guests. The set includes 5 plates so they can be used for gatherings and parties of up to 5 people.

Laque d'Echizen

La laque d'Echizen est originaire de la ville de Sabae, dans la préfecture de Fukui, au nord du Japon. Riche de plus de 1 500 ans d'histoire, elle est réputée pour son lustre discret et sa beauté élégante. Elle est produite par des artisans expérimentés, chacun spécialisé dans une étape du processus de fabrication.

Face à l'évolution des modes de vie des Japonais et des besoins du marché, les créateurs de laques d'Echizen ont diversifié leurs produits et développé des technologies pour la production de masse. Aujourd'hui, plus de 80 % des laques destinées à l'industrie alimentaire et aux entreprises proviennent d'Echizen. Cette région, riche de siècles de tradition, se réinvente aussi grâce à l'innovation.