Puntogf Antiques.

Original Japanese

All About Japanese Lacquer and Exquisite Sprinkled Pictures

Before I describe these unique and beautiful works of art, exclusively Japanese, I feel that you need to know more about Lacquer, the extraordinary medium that was used. Only then will you fully appreciate these brilliant creations.

For readers who are unfamiliar with old Japanese Lacquer, I suspect you will be thinking of the typical modern Lacquer trays and bowls that are mass-produced. These items are very decorative, but completely fail to compare with the magnificent earlier hand made works.

From China to Japan

Lacquer is really the sap from a tree known as `Rhus Vernicifera'. The Chinese were the first to discover and use it, at least a century before Christ, when it was used as a paint, and more often as a preservative. It was a very effective preservative, as many pieces still exist from as far back as the Han period 206BC, when Lacquer was very popular and in extensive use.

The earliest known Japanese Lacquer dates back to about the 7th Century, but it was not until the 14th and 15th century that the Japanese Lacquer works became so much more decorative. By then they had refined and created exceptional techniques, far finer and more beautiful than the Chinese lacquer that they had simply originally copied.

The Chinese had used shades of black, brown, yellow, green, and mostly red or cinnabar Lacquer. They mainly favoured deep carving of the Lacquer, to form the decoration, and produced some outstanding work.

They often applied the colours in layers, so that once carved, these colours would be revealed. One particular technique is known as `Guri' Lacquer: the colours mostly red and black were built up in layers, and then a geometric or symmetrical pattern would be carved with a deep `V' shaped cut, so that all these alternating layers would be revealed within the cuts. The Chinese also painted, incised and inlaid Lacquer with iridescent pieces of shell, but these works were treasured by the Japanese often more so, than by the Chinese.

To begin with all these methods were copied, but by about the 15th century the Japanese had become, justifiably, the unrivalled masters of the art!

Lacquer was, quite rightly, highly valued for its lasting qualities and strength. A very high gloss could be achieved, proving impervious to alcohol, acids and hot liquids. It would also have appealed to the Zen Buddhism ideals of `Yin and Yang’, as Lacquer appears to be so delicately beautiful and light in weight. Yet, it is hard, impermeable and enduring.

The Preparation

It is a very difficult medium to work with, uncompromising, sticky, and time consuming. It had to be strained to remove any impurities, and gently heated to thicken, and evaporate any moisture content. All the time it had to be kept in a dust free environment, and added to these difficulties, in its liquid form it gives off a poisonous gas! Strangely, it requires a damp humid atmosphere for it to harden.

It had to be applied in very thin layers, otherwise it runs, and if too thick, will not harden at all but will just form a skin. After each layer had hardened, all the time in a dust free area, it was carefully rubbed down before another layer would be added.

An average piece consisted of a minimum of 30 layers, in order that there would not be a trace of the wood base, or on larger pieces the hemp cloth applied in the early layers, to help strengthen the wood. The Lacquer Artist would have taken over, only at this stage, to create the decoration by the addition of yet even more layers.

The number of colours possible, due to chemical reactions with pigments and the composition of Lacquer were limited. So Lacquer artists were still restricted and blue was a very rare colour.

It was the Japanese that developed the idea and the techniques of adding gold and silver to liven up the decoration. Real gold and silver metals were used in the form of foil, flakes, metal particles of various grades, as well as powders. All of these precious metals were brilliantly used to great advantage, particularly in the late 18th and early 19th century.

The sprinkling of gold or silver metal particles had been used before and over a very long period, to brighten up the interiors. Even very early Lacquer works have `Nashiji' inside. This is where fine particles of gold have simply been sprinkled in to the Lacquer. Some were scattered unevenly, producing cloud effects, whilst others varied in the density. However no pictures were formed.

Sprinkled, Not Painted!

In the 18th century they invented and refined the idea of sprinkled pictures, and these were used to great effect in what are known as `Togadashi' pieces. They are easily identified, as the surface of the Lacquer is always perfectly smooth in Togadashi work.

These designs and amazing pictures were created purely, by very skilfully pouring various grades of fine metal and pigment powders on to the wet Lacquer, so that they would sink in. There was no way of correcting any errors! Extra layers of the background colour, normally black, would be added over the picture. Then by carefully polishing down until the picture reappears, the top edges of the metal particles would be made to glisten from the polish, providing brilliance impossible to achieve any other way. The last very thin coats would be of the purest clear Lacquer, providing the mirror like high gloss finish.

Various shades of black were created, by charcoal mixed with different quantities of silver powder, so that they could even simulate painted brush strokes. These powders were mainly used for black pictures on a gold background, that one would never imagine were created by sprinkling techniques. What is also quite remarkable, is the very fine degree of control in shading that they were able to achieve. This meant that far more sophisticated pictures could be created, than had ever been seen before.

There are three types of sprinkled picture techniques in all and Togadashi, already described, is my favourite! Another is `Hiramakie', which is where quite a thickly sprinkled gold powder is used, and the lacquer is raised just a little above the background. As usual the surface is polished and burnished, before the final clear layers, and has a very rich appearance. Lastly, there is `Takamakie', which is again similar to Hiramakie, only it is in much higher relief. This thickness was achieved by building up and modelling the areas required in relief, with a combination of Lacquer and charcoal, before applying the gold powder layers.

Highlights Of Pure Gold

Many Lacquer artists made use of a combination of these techniques in a piece of work. Just to further enrich these pictures, finely shaped tiny pieces of pure gold, so small that it is hard to imagine how they were handled, are individually applied near the final surface to create highlights. Frequently these are exactly matched shapes, tiny squares or diamond pieces that are all so amazingly very accurately placed.

Togadashi Boxes

One of our favourite examples of this type of work in this collection is a fine Box that appears as two overlapping boxes. One shows the figure of the swordsmith forging the sword `Little Fox', assisted by the Fox Spirit in the guise of a woman; the other has an overall design of a mass of gold and coloured flowers.

Looking closely at the gold centres of the flowers one can see how these consist of a number of very tiny shaped flakes of gold; each flake has been carefully placed by hand.

It also has a marvellous fitted tray just in gold Togadashi of three foxes running in a landscape with a really dream like quality. The border of the tray is decorated in `Gyobu’, which is where each individual flake of gold has also been positioned by hand, rather than sprinkled.

Another wonderful Box that is purely, fine Togadashi, depicts a busy street market scene, and what more can I say, other than it is an outstanding piece of work!

Neither of these boxes is signed, but they are nevertheless, of the finest quality. To see the photographs please use the link at the end of this article. These wonderful lacquer works feature on Japanese inro too (the subject of another article).

Modern Works

A word of warning when buying lacquer, it is important that the condition is both good and original. As there are now some cleverly repaired pieces on the market, expert advice should always be obtained.

Fine Lacquer is made even today, and there are certain living traditional Lacquer artists who are held in very high esteem in Japan. So much so, that some have been designated as `Living National Treasures', and their contemporary hand made Lacquer work is in high demand and extremely expensive.

I have seen an example, at a Lacquer study weekend held at the V & A museum. A remarkable modern box that combined thick clear Perspex with black Lacquer in a geometric design that really was very dramatic. Personally I still prefer the earlier works and for the cost of this modern box a very good collection could be formed!

About the Author

John N. Cohen A past director of Jacey Cinemas Ltd. Later the proprietor of a design & photographic studio, now a director of Jacey Homes Ltd., a property development company. Interests and Hobbies: A top international award winning photographer who also became a well known Asian antiques collector and an enthusiast of Jensen British classic cars. Other interests are skiing and Salsa dancing.

For John’s other interests please have a look at: - http://www.jncohen.net

The author has been a very keen collector for many years in helping to create ‘The Cohen collection’. http://www.jncohen.net/Cohen_collection/index.htm

To see other articles, with photographs, please use the following link:
http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm

Akira - The Original Japanese Soundtrack $9.67 Akira - The Original Japanese Soundtrack

Gojira: The Original Japanese Masterpiece $28.95 Gojira: The Original Japanese Masterpiece

Japanese Original Album Collection 4 $449.99 Japanese Original Album Collection 4

Original Japanese Ca: Phantom Of The Ope $52.47 Original Japanese Ca: Phantom Of The Ope

The reluctant bachelor,: An original Japanese story $40 The reluctant bachelor,: An original Japanese story

And The Original Memphis- - Japanese Import $10.12 Buy and sell [And The Original Memphis- - Japanese Import] at great prices.

Akira: The Original Japanese Soundtrack $38.93 Buy and sell [Akira: The Original Japanese Soundtrack] at great prices.

Shm-Original Soundtrack + - Japanese Import $31.95 Buy and sell [Shm-Original Soundtrack + - Japanese Import] at great prices.

Blues & Original Nitty - Japanese Import $67.7 Buy and sell [Blues & Original Nitty - Japanese Import] at great prices.

Original Modern Readers Japanese English Character Dictionary $64.35 Original Modern Readers Japanese English Character Dictionary

Japanese Original Album Collection, Vol. 4 $401.5 Japanese Original Album Collection, Vol. 4

Japanese Story [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] $39.35 Japanese Story [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

Original Enlightenment and the Tranformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism $26.19 Original Enlightenment and the Tranformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism

Japanese Original Album Collection, Vol. 3 $401.5 Japanese Original Album Collection, Vol. 3

Original Soundtrack - Paper Sleeve - [Japanese Import] $30.69 Buy and sell [Original Soundtrack - Paper Sleeve - [Japanese Import]] at great prices.

HALFORD - Japanese Tour - Custom Framed Original Ad - $14.99 HALFORD Japanese Tour - Custom Framed Original Ad 34x28cm 23mm black wood frame with white mat Glazed with plexiglass

Original Album Re-Issue C - Japanese Import $76.9 Buy and sell [Original Album Re-Issue C - Japanese Import] at great prices.

The Original Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary $36.1 Buy and sell [The Original Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary] at great prices.

Original Modern Reader's Japanese Englis $18.5 By scholarly consensus - 'the first really practical, completely up-to-date, and authoritative dictionary in its field...a genuine boon to all English-speaking students of written Japanese...'

Rhapsody In August (first Issue Release, Original Japanese Dialogue) $1.31 Rhapsody In August (first Issue Release, Original Japanese Dialogue)

Japanese $10 Japanese

Japanese Story [Original Motion Picture... $42.99 Track Listing: 1. Chinsagu No Hana, 2. Opening Titles, 3. I Hate Karaoke, 4. Debris in a Desert, 5. Hotel, 6. No More Map, 7. Who Are You, 8. Very Old Rock, 9. At the Waterhole, 10. Driving at Night, 11. In the Miror, 12. I'd Like to Be Involved (Chinsagu No Hand), 13. Japanese Story (Closing Credits), 14. Hiromitsu (Alternate at the Watehole) (Bonus Track), 15. Night Drive (Unused) (Bonus Track)

Japanese in America $15.29 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1921 Original Publisher: E. M. Boddy Subjects: Japanese Americans United States Japan Japanese History / General History / Asia / Japan History / United States / General History / United States / State

Japanese Cocktails $7.48 Japan's rich history of spirits is experiencing a renaissance as people the world over become increasingly infatuated with beverages made from sak, shochu, and Japanese whisky. In Japanese Cocktails, cocktail expert Yuri Kato collects more than 60 recipes for cocktail classics (such as the Hinomaru, the Yuzu Bath, and the Echo Julep) as well as original creations that infuse such non-Japanese spirits as vodka, rum, and tequila. Including the history of Japan's distinctive spirits, tips on finding key ingredients, and sidebars that cover topics ranging from cherry blossom season to Tokyo's fashion district, this handy guide offers readers a unique glimpse into contemporary Japanese culture, perfect for perusing while enjoying a delicious drink!

ORIGINAL JAPANESE CA: PHANTOM OF THE OPE $54.98 Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber.It's a testament to Andrew Lloyd Webber's crowd-pleasing compositional skills that the original cast recording of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA went on to become the biggest-selling cast album ever. So when the time came to adapt his music for the film version of the monumentally successful theatrical work, Webber enlisted the aid of longtime collaborators Nigel Wright and Simon Lee. They produced an expanded orchestral version of the score, grander and more sumptuous than the original, and assembled a 100-member ensemble to do it justice.However, the tragic story of the disfigured Phantom and Christine, the beautiful object of his desire, cannot be told without powerful performances of those roles. Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum quickly dispel any concerns regarding the adequacy of their portrayals. Butler's full-blooded renditions of "The Music of the Night" and the title song are tinged with a dark eroticism, while Rossum's account of "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" skillfully conveys her character's vulnerability and conflicted feelings. The soundtrack also features a newly penned song by Webber, the poignant "Learn to Be Lonely," sung by Minnie Driver, who appears in the role of Carlotta in the film.

Japanese Industrial Governance $195 This book uses a wide range of original Japanese sources to trace important aspects of the history of Japanese economic ideas, in particular, the development of Japan's industrial policy.

AEROSMITH - Japanese Tour 2000 - Custom Framed Original Ad - $18.99 AEROSMITH Japanese Tour 2000 - Custom Framed Original Ad 42x34cm 23mm black wood frame with white mat Glazed with plexiglass

CORRS - In Blue Japanese Tour - Custom Framed Original Ad - $18.99 CORRS In Blue Japanese Tour - Custom Framed Original Ad 42x34cm 23mm black wood frame with white mat Glazed with plexiglass

Lake of Heaven: An Original Translation of the Japanese Novel by Ishim $55.95 Lake of Heaven is a tale of the people, culture, and environment of a Japanese mountain village that is sunk to build a dam. As Gary Snyder comments, the story becomes a parable for the larger world, in which all of our old cultures and all of our old villages are becoming buried, sunken, and lost under the rising waters of the dams of industrialization and globalization.

Japanese Policymaking $10.48 Japan's policymaking is, given that nation's economic prowess and history, of considerable worldwide interest. Quansheng Zhao makes a highly original and important contribution to an improved understanding of Japanese policymaking processes by examining several informal approaches or mechanisms, which in their interrelationships directly impact policy formulation. He examines kuromaku or the informal organizations or political actors; isuskiai or social connections; and nemawashi or the behind the scenes preparations and shows their effect on policy through detailed empirical analysis. Four case studies involving Japan's policies toward China offer special, and captivating, insights into Sino-Japanese relations and provide lessons relative to the country's international policies. The highly informed treatment of political institutions, social environments, and political cultures will provide a needed understanding of essential elements affecting the stance Japan takes vis-a-vis other countries.

The Japanese Art of War $12.48 Military rule and the martial tradition of the samurai dominated Japanese culture for more than eight hundred years. According to Thomas Clearyâ??translator of more than thirty-five classics of Asian philosophyâ??the Japanese people have been so steeped in the way of the warrior that some of the manners and mentality of this outlook remain embedded in their individual and collective consciousness. Cleary shows how well-known attributes such as the reserve and mystery of formal Japanese behavior are deeply rooted in the ancient strategies of the traditional arts of war. Citing original Japanese sources that are popular among Japanese readers today, he reveals the hidden forces behind Japanese attitudes and conduct in political, business, social, and personal life.

Defying Gravity - Original Japanese Cast Recording