|
|
|
What's Urushi
| What's Urushi?
Urushi is 100% natural lacquer sapped from Urushi trees, which grow in Japan, Korean Peninsula, China as far north as the Himalayas, and Southest Asia. Collecting Urushi is labor intensive. Even today, Urushi has to be collected by hand. |
 |
|
|
| Common Types of Urushi Used in Pen Making:
Hana-nuri (natural-looking) and Roiro-migaki (with special burnishing):
These are two different basic finishes on Urushi-nuri. The burnishing that is done after several layers of Urushi have been applied and dried is called Hana-nuri. Roiro-migaki is to continue to burnish with charcoals repeatedly after the Hana-nuri is done, until the surface looks like a mirror with more luster. This extra step will tke a few weeks longer to complete and is quite labor-intensive. |
|
|
|
| Negoro-nuri: Negoro-nuri was started in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) by monks of Negoro temple who attached importance to practical use such as dinner wares or containers. It was painted with black Urushi several times on the red Urushi. If black Urushi is used as base, then it is called Akebono-nuri. It became famous because when the red Urushi wore off from general wear and tear, the black Urushi began to show from underneath. This look of natural wear was considered to be very refined. |
|
|
|
| Tame-nuri: Tame-nuri has two ways of finishes: Nurippanashi and Roiro-shiage. Since Hana-nuri, Roiro-migaki and Tame-nuri look identical, especially in a photograph, the difference has to be compared and clarified by its value. Their ranks are as follow: Tame-nuri with Roiro-migaki is the best, followed by Tame-nuri with Nurippanashi, then Roigo-migaki, then Hana-nuri. |
|
|
|
| Tsugaru-nuri: This is one of the most popular and important Urushi painting methods in Japan developed in Hirosaki City of Aomori Prefecture. The four major Tsugaru-nuri are: Kara-nuri, Nanako-nuri, Monsha-nuri, and Nishiki-nuri. The quality of this type of work is very high and it is famous for its durability. |
|
|
|
| Wakasa-nuri: Developed in Fukui Prefecture, Wakasa-nuri employs additional materials such as very fine egg shell pieces, sea shells, or pine leaves. The Urushi is then applied onto the surface of the objects, as are gold flakes. The surface is then polished. The patterns are significantly more colorful than Tsugaru-nuri. |
|
|
Powered by CityMax.com
|
|
