Wagtails at the Waterfall

With wagtails along a clear stream and a waterfall framed by green maples, this piece, crafted by maki-e artist Hariya Masayuki, captures the beauty of Japan’s summer scenery in vivid detail. One bird rests on a rock while the other soars into the sky, completing a design that evokes clarity and vitality.

Acrylic was chosen for the transparency it provides. The green maples painted above the waterfall seem reflected on the water’s surface, a visual shift that heightens the impression of cool refinement. 

The design employs the decorative lacquerware techniques of both hira maki-e and taka maki-e. Hira maki-e involves painting patterns with lacquer, sprinkling gold or silver powder before it hardens, then coating with clear lacquer and polishing to create a smooth, luminous surface. This technique allows the scenery to emerge with radiant definition within the transparent acrylic.

For the taka maki-e technique, a raised ground is prepared with layers of lacquer and then decorated with maki-e, producing a three-dimensional effect. The repeated polishing required makes this among the most technically demanding forms of maki-e. In this piece, a touch of rust-colored lacquer elevates the rocks, giving them a rugged, natural texture.

But the appeal of this piece lies not only in its techniques but also in its dual perspectives. Viewed from the outside, the lid presents a realistic, refreshing scene of nature. From the inside, however, gold powder creates a more decorative brilliance—each offering a distinct expression of artistry.

By layering traditional methods onto a modern medium, Hariya pursues new expressions of maki-e. This work brings a fresh breeze to the art of lacquerware.

Hariya Masayuki

Hariya Masayuki is a maki-e artist specializing in Yamanaka lacquerware. Raised in a family of artisans, Hariya grew up surrounded by the tools and materials of the trade. This environment gave him an early and intimate familiarity with the world of craftsmanship. In his late teens, he encountered the works of Japan’s designated Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage, such as Matsuda Gonroku and Terai Naoji, at a museum in Kanazawa Prefecture, an experience that sparked his lifelong fascination with maki-e. 

Hariya faithfully preserves traditional techniques, while also incorporating modern materials and ideas. In doing so, he expands lacquer art beyond its conventional boundaries and opens up new creative possibilities.

Yamanaka Lacquerware

Yamanaka lacquerware, also known as Yamanaka Shikki, is a kind of lacquerware produced in the Yamanaka Onsen district of Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture. This lacquerware is unique in that it blends wood grain's natural elegance with the elegant maki-e technique of sprinkling gold, silver, or other colored powder onto a lacquer painting.

With its beautiful wood texture, delicate and robust Yamanaka lacquerware incorporates a modern sense of design while inheriting a tradition that has lasted for 400 years.