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