| Before I describe these unique and beautiful | | | | the Chinese lacquer that they had simply |
| works of art, exclusively Japanese, I feel | | | | originally copied.The Chinese had used shades |
| that you need to know more about lacquer, the | | | | of black, brown, yellow, green, and mostly |
| extraordinary medium that was used. Only then | | | | red or cinnabar Lacquer. They mainly favoured |
| will you fully appreciate these brilliant | | | | deep carving of the Lacquer, to form the |
| creations.For readers who are unfamiliar with | | | | decoration, and produced some outstanding |
| old Japanese lacquer, I suspect you will be | | | | work.They often applied the colours in |
| thinking of the typical modern lacquer trays | | | | layers, so that once carved, these colours |
| and bowls that are mass-produced. These items | | | | would be revealed. One particular technique |
| are very decorative, but completely fail to | | | | is known as 'Guri' lacquer: the colours |
| compare with the magnificent earlier hand | | | | mostly red and black were built up in layers, |
| made works.FROM CHINA TO JAPANLacquer is | | | | and then a geometric or symmetrical pattern |
| really the sap from a tree known as 'Rhus | | | | would be carved with a deep `V' shaped cut, |
| Vernicifera'. The Chinese were the first to | | | | so that all these alternating layers would be |
| discover and use it, at least a century | | | | revealed within the cuts. The Chinese also |
| before Christ, when it was used as a paint, | | | | painted, incised and inlaid lacquer with |
| and more often as a preservative. It was a | | | | iridescent pieces of shell, but these works |
| very effective preservative, as many pieces | | | | were treasured by the Japanese often more so, |
| still exist from as far back as the Han | | | | than by the Chinese.To begin with all these |
| period 206BC, when lacquer was very popular | | | | methods were copied, but by about the 15th |
| and in extensive use.The earliest known | | | | century the Japanese had become, justifiably, |
| Japanese lacquer dates back to about the 7th | | | | the unrivalled masters of the art!Lacquer |
| Century, but it was not until the 14th and | | | | was, quite rightly, highly valued for its |
| 15th century that the Japanese lacquer works | | | | lasting qualities and strength. A very high |
| became so much more decorative. By then they | | | | gloss could be achieved, proving impervious |
| had refined and created exceptional | | | | to alcohol, acids and hot liquids. |
| techniques, far finer and more beautiful than | | | | |