This video shows a Hida craftsman applying a lacquerware finish to a handcrafted bowl, resulting in a transparent, amber finish that accentuates the natural grain of the base wood.
Said to have originated in the 17th century, the production process for Hida Shunkei lacquerware involves the smoothing of the wooden surface with a powder, staining the wood yellow or red, then applying a base coat of soy juice and several coats of transparent urushi lacquer and perilla oil in a technique called suri urushi. Finally, a highly transparent topcoat of Shunkei lacquer is applied to produce the signature glossy finish.
Discover more about Japanese woodworking techniques in the Hida region in our exhibition The Carpenters' Line.
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