An Multimedia Japanese Comb

#Gold #japaneselacquer #multimedia 

Gold lacquer wasn't always applied only to black backgrounds on wood. On this antique haircomb we see gold lacquer and shell combined. Whereas our ancestors would have valued brooches and hat pins or necklaces for a Japanese woman who could afford it haircombs usually  took the place of jewellery.

Note also how the use of the shell for wings and flowers contrasts with the gold leaves.

HAGI STYLIZED

#hagi #bushclover #japaneseart #japaneselacquer

I've seen Hagi - Bush Clover represented in a variety of stylized ways so here's what it actually looks like compared to its rendering in 3 different media

However on lacquer 

and on a print 

finally a painting 

Ajisai in Japanese Lacquer

#hydrangeas #ajisai #japaneselacquer

As its #hydrangea season in Japan I kept on hunting for images and found this beautiful example of Japanese lacquer from the Taisho era

Yes the Japanese lacquer masters studied exported Chinese lacquer using imbedded pieces of shell.

Here's a closeup

Enjoy ! 

Omi Hakkei Lacquer Box

#omihakkei #japaneselacquer #lacquer
This is the only "Omi Hakkei" I could find using #lacquer as a medium. There may be others I'm unaware not available as images online.

The artist has suggested the snow capped mountains and the bridge using grey metal and included boats returning and a shoreline village plus the geese returning and the night rain shrine and the temple of the bells. I suspect the autumn moon over Ishiyama is on the outside of the lid not included in the photo.  An excellent and elegant balance of gold and grey on black.

Butterflies - Zeshin Lacquer painting

#butterflies #zeshin #lacquer #painting

Yes this is lacquer not ink !

I hope you have enjoyed this butterfly series

A Butterfly Okimono

#Ittousai #lacquer #driftwood #okimono #butterfly

This work could be classified as a lacquer work or a sculpture.

The downloadable image does not show that the butterfly worked in bronze is perched on a piece of driftwood that has been carefully lacquered to preserve it and enhance the bronzework by contrast.

Its an early 20th century work!

Our butterfly series continues next week Join Me then! 

You can get updates on when I post by following me on Google or via my Twitter feed @JVartndesign

A Swarm of Dragons Four MORE CHU

A Swarm of Dragons Four MORE CHU

I mentioned the CHU HAN wars and rebellions briefly last time and how close we may have come to having the first dynasty to unify most of china being called CHU rather than CHIN / QIN.

Here's some innovative CHU culture artifacts in lacquer

Note the rich colors that influenced HAN dynasty art.

But first a reminder of its location amongst the other states and realms.

Yes Black and Red Lacquer appeared in the CHU state before the Han dynasty and it would seem the CHU state lacquer workers developed polychrome lacquer first first!

Finally the first known and surviving silk scroll came from a tomb near a major CHU state city

the famous Lady with a Dragon and Phoenix!

The lasting influence of CHU culture probably strengthened Taoism within Chinese culture against the militarism of the QIN and the restored Confucianism of the HAN.

If you can access a translation of Sima Qian read about the struggles of CHU against Qin and Han.

Chinese culture modern or ancient is not a monolith.

A Final thought artifacts show that the CHU traded south and southwest with the Yue Ba Shu and other cultures. Was that a factor in the sinicization of what became Vietnam?

GEESE in LACQUER

#geese #lacquer #japanese

Grrr I'm stuck on one final word with that Rengetsu translation so here's something else with geese on it to look at while I finish. The grey part is probably a lead inlay.

Hotei in Lacquer

#hotei #lacquer #japanese 

I found one last #Hotei image on share with you !

Not maki-e but still a beautiful example of a functional object that's also exquisite sculpture!

HAN dynasty Lacquer

#handynasty #lacquer #chinese

Most people think probably of Carved Red lacquer or maybe something with inlay when they think of Chinese lacquer however Chinese lacquer has many styles and techniques as Japanese does.

Here's a lovely example of a simple yet complex box. 

How can I describe it as both? The underlying form is simple and basic but look at the pattern with its engraved lines filled with a different or possibly carved down to a different underlying color. The caption didn't say which technique was used but the result is exquisite. 

My point? Apart form displaying the diversity of Chinese lacquer don't be mislead if you have only seen items made for tourists. Chinese Lacquer is diverse too!

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Oldest known Chinese Lacquer Bowl

This is the oldest earliest Chinese Lacquer Bowl discovered up to this date that I could find a usable image of. It seems allowing for oxidation and aging that form the earliest times the Chinese had a strong preference for RED lacquer though whether the red on this is from the wood or color added to the lacquer or both I don't known. 

It is noteworthy though a preference of red lacquers in Chinese lacquerware even though both the Chinese and Japanese both used red or clear lacquer over reddish woods  and developed a broad range of techniques for polychrome lacquer.

In the heart of all lacquer ware is a concept or feeling that the lacquer should protect and display the beauty and flexibility of wood?

Lacquer as a Verb

LACQUER AS A VERB

#hanzi #kanji #nurimono #lacquer #japanese #chinese

Copyright Julie Vaux 2016

 

Inro Ojime Set

#Netsuke #inro #ojime

Photos and Museum displays of Netsuke and Inro don't always show the whole set of Netsuke Inro and Ojime and the cord joining the three.

Partly this is because the collector acquired an incomplete set as a "curio" or the netsuke dates to the late 19th century when they started being made and sold separately as objects of art and souvenirs but netsuke are meant to have a function. Sometimes the Inro just has a cord or a netsuke without an ojime or vice versa.

This first image shows how an #Inro opens up to reveal an inner box.

and here we see an #inro with cord and #ojime bead.