stories 05

Lacquerware

Lacquering is to give life that lasts a thousand years

Lacquerware, which is known as “Japan” throughout the world, is one of Japan’s representative traditional crafts. What is unique about lacquering is its long history dating back to the Jomon period (before 300 BC); its richness of cultural layers from different social classes including the court nobility, samurais, temples and shrines, and merchants; and the local varieties of lacquerware.

People likely think lacquer is used for aesthetic handicrafts but originally, lacquering, when applied to the surface of bowls or caskets, served a distinctive purpose as a natural coating material or adhesive providing excellent protection against water and corrosion. Something having a variety of applications was deeply valued by the Japanese who have made lacquer a cultural asset, supporting their everyday life since ancient times.

Negoro

Negoro refers to rustic and simple lacquerware coated with a black lacquer and then is layered with red lacquer: for example, tableware such as tables, trays, dishes, and bowls. This kind of lacquering style was originally done using utensils used by monks in training at Negoro-ji, a Zen temple that gained power from the Kamakura period through to the Muromachi period. After many years of using negoro lacquerware, the Japanese found an ever-changing mystical beauty in what was vanishing: red lacquer would wear out to reveal a black-lacquer underlay appearing irregularly on the surface.

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Trivet table｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Square tray｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Square tray｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Square tray｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Square tray｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Liquor bottle｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Liquor bottle｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Liquor bottle｜Muromachi period

  • Negoro lacquerware Liquor bottle｜Muromachi period

Local Lacquerware across Japan

Lacquerware comes in local varieties from the north to the south of Japan. Different techniques are used for the preparation and coating of the wooden bases, for example, to which lacquer is applied as well as adjusting the color of the finished surface. All varieties have unique patterns refined to suit the intended utility. Some of the bowls are shown below so we can have an insight into the various locations from which they originate and their typical features. One can appreciate these as soup bowls that are most common to everyday life of the Japanese, although lacquer is, of course, used for various craft items.

  • Tsugaru lacquerware｜Aomori Prefecture

  • Tsugaru lacquerware｜Aomori Prefecture

  • Kawatsura lacquerware｜Akita Prefecture

  • Kawatsura lacquerware｜Akita Prefecture

  • Joboji lacquerware｜Iwate Prefecture

  • Joboji lacquerware｜Iwate Prefecture

  • Aizu lacquerware｜Fukushima Prefecture

  • Aizu lacquerware｜Fukushima Prefecture

  • Kiso lacquerware｜Nagano Prefecture

  • Kiso lacquerware｜Nagano Prefecture

  • Wajima lacquerware｜Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Wajima lacquerware｜Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Yamanaka lacquerware｜Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Yamanaka lacquerware｜Ishikawa Prefecture

  • Echizen lacquerware｜Fukui Prefecture

  • Echizen lacquerware｜Fukui Prefecture

  • Kagawa lacquerware｜Kagawa Prefecture

  • Kagawa lacquerware｜Kagawa Prefecture

Lacquer＋Backing Material＝Efficiency

People tend to imagine that lacquer is beautiful and luxurious crafts that are excessively delicate and prone to scratching. In fact, lacquer offers an array of outstanding benefits when applied to different kinds of materials. Besides aesthetic appreciation, lacquer is defined here in terms of its functions demonstrated in experimental combinations.

  • Iron＋Lacquer＝Tactile sensation
  • Wood＋Lacquer＝Antimicrobial resistance
  • Paper＋Lacquer＝Water-proofing
  • Resin＋Lacquer＝Novelty
  • Brass＋Lacquer＝Isolation
  • Wood panel＋Lacquer＝Resistance
  • Cloth＋Lacquer＝Solidification
  • Bamboo＋Lacquer＝Flexibility
  • Stone＋Lacquer＝Texture
  • Glass＋Lacquer＝Adhesion
  • Leather＋Lacquer＝Antifouling
  • Soil＋Lacquer＝Rigidity

  • Iron＋Lacquer＝Tactile sensation

  • Wood＋Lacquer＝Antimicrobial resistance

  • Paper＋Lacquer＝Water-proofing

  • Resin＋Lacquer＝Novelty

  • Brass＋Lacquer＝Isolation

  • Wood panel＋Lacquer＝Resistance

  • Cloth＋Lacquer＝Solidification

  • Bamboo＋Lacquer＝Flexibility

  • Stone＋Lacquer＝Texture

  • Glass＋Lacquer＝Adhesion

  • Leather＋Lacquer＝Antifouling

  • Soil＋Lacquer＝Rigidity

CREDITS

Support: Japan Design Committee, Makoto Koizumi