| All about how exquisite pictures were formed, | | | | density. However no pictures were formed. |
| surprisingly, by sprinkling techniques rather than | | | | Sprinkled, not painted! |
| being painted on beautiful antique Japanese | | | | In the 18th century they invented and refined the |
| lacquer, found in 18th & 19th century works | | | | idea of sprinkled pictures, and these were used to |
| of art. | | | | great effect in what are known as `Togadashi' |
| Before I describe these unique and beautiful | | | | pieces. They are easily identified, as the surface |
| works of art, exclusively Japanese, I feel that you | | | | of the Lacquer is always perfectly smooth in |
| need to know more about Lacquer, the | | | | Togadashi work. |
| extraordinary medium that was used. Only then | | | | These designs and amazing pictures were created |
| will you fully appreciate these brilliant creations. | | | | purely, by very skilfully pouring various grades of |
| For readers who are unfamiliar with old Japanese | | | | fine metal and pigment powders on to the wet |
| Lacquer, I suspect you will be thinking of the | | | | Lacquer, so that they would sink in. There was no |
| typical modern Lacquer trays and bowls that are | | | | way of correcting any errors! Extra layers of the |
| mass-produced. These items are very decorative, | | | | background colour, normally black, would be added |
| but completely fail to compare with the | | | | over the picture. Then by carefully polishing down |
| magnificent earlier hand made works. | | | | until the picture reappears, the top edges of the |
| From China to Japan | | | | metal particles would be made to glisten from the |
| Lacquer is really the sap from a tree known as | | | | polish, providing brilliance impossible to achieve any |
| `Rhus Vernicifera'. The Chinese were the first to | | | | other way. The last very thin coats would be of |
| discover and use it, at least a century before | | | | the purest clear Lacquer, providing the mirror like |
| Christ, when it was used as a paint, and more | | | | high gloss finish. |
| often as a preservative. It was a very effective | | | | Various shades of black were created, by |
| preservative, as many pieces still exist from as | | | | charcoal mixed with different quantities of silver |
| far back as the Han period 206BC, when Lacquer | | | | powder, so that they could even simulate painted |
| was very popular and in extensive use. | | | | brush strokes. These powders were mainly used |
| The earliest known Japanese Lacquer dates back | | | | for black pictures on a gold background, that one |
| to about the 7th Century, but it was not until the | | | | would never imagine were created by sprinkling |
| 14th and 15th century that the Japanese Lacquer | | | | techniques. What is also quite remarkable, is the |
| works became so much more decorative. By | | | | very fine degree of control in shading that they |
| then they had refined and created exceptional | | | | were able to achieve. This meant that far more |
| techniques, far finer and more beautiful than the | | | | sophisticated pictures could be created, than had |
| Chinese lacquer that they had simply originally | | | | ever been seen before. |
| copied. | | | | There are three types of sprinkled picture |
| The Chinese had used shades of black, brown, | | | | techniques in all and Togadashi, already described, |
| yellow, green, and mostly red or cinnabar Lacquer. | | | | is my favourite! Another is `Hiramakie', which is |
| They mainly favoured deep carving of the | | | | where quite a thickly sprinkled gold powder is |
| Lacquer, to form the decoration, and produced | | | | used, and the lacquer is raised just a little above |
| some outstanding work. | | | | the background. As usual the surface is polished |
| They often applied the colours in layers, so that | | | | and burnished, before the final clear layers, and |
| once carved, these colours would be revealed. | | | | has a very rich appearance. Lastly, there is |
| One particular technique is known as `Guri' | | | | `Takamakie', which is again similar to Hiramakie, |
| Lacquer: the colours mostly red and black were | | | | only it is in much higher relief. This thickness was |
| built up in layers, and then a geometric or | | | | achieved by building up and modelling the areas |
| symmetrical pattern would be carved with a deep | | | | required in relief, with a combination of Lacquer |
| `V' shaped cut, so that all these alternating layers | | | | and charcoal, before applying the gold powder |
| would be revealed within the cuts. The Chinese | | | | layers. |
| also painted, incised and inlaid Lacquer with | | | | Highlights of pure gold |
| iridescent pieces of shell, but these works were | | | | Many Lacquer artists made use of a combination |
| treasured by the Japanese often more so, than | | | | of these techniques in a piece of work. Just to |
| by the Chinese. | | | | further enrich these pictures, finely shaped tiny |
| To begin with all these methods were copied, but | | | | pieces of pure gold, so small that it is hard to |
| by about the 15th century the Japanese had | | | | imagine how they were handled, are individually |
| become, justifiably, the unrivalled masters of the | | | | applied near the final surface to create highlights. |
| art! | | | | Frequently these are exactly matched shapes, |
| Lacquer was, quite rightly, highly valued for its | | | | tiny squares or diamond pieces that are all so |
| lasting qualities and strength. A very high gloss | | | | amazingly very accurately placed. |
| could be achieved, proving impervious to alcohol, | | | | Togadashi Boxes |
| acids and hot liquids. It would also have appealed | | | | One of our favourite examples of this type of |
| to the Zen Buddhism ideals of `Yin and Yang', as | | | | work in this collection is a fine Box that appears |
| Lacquer appears to be so delicately beautiful and | | | | as two overlapping boxes. One shows the figure |
| light in weight. Yet, it is hard, impermeable and | | | | of the swordsmith forging the sword `Little Fox', |
| enduring. | | | | assisted by the Fox Spirit in the guise of a |
| The preparation | | | | woman; the other has an overall design of a |
| It is a very difficult medium to work with, | | | | mass of gold and coloured flowers. |
| uncompromising, sticky, and time consuming. It | | | | Looking closely at the gold centres of the flowers |
| had to be strained to remove any impurities, and | | | | one can see how these consist of a number of |
| gently heated to thicken, and evaporate any | | | | very tiny shaped flakes of gold; each flake has |
| moisture content. All the time it had to be kept in | | | | been carefully placed by hand. |
| a dust free environment, and added to these | | | | It also has a marvellous fitted tray just in gold |
| difficulties, in its liquid form it gives off a poisonous | | | | Togadashi of three foxes running in a landscape |
| gas! Strangely, it requires a damp humid | | | | with a really dream like quality. The border of the |
| atmosphere for it to harden. | | | | tray is decorated in `Gyobu', which is where each |
| It had to be applied in very thin layers, otherwise | | | | individual flake of gold has also been positioned by |
| it runs, and if too thick, will not harden at all but | | | | hand, rather than sprinkled. |
| will just form a skin. After each layer had | | | | Another wonderful Box that is purely, fine |
| hardened, all the time in a dust free area, it was | | | | Togadashi, depicts a busy street market scene, |
| carefully rubbed down before another layer would | | | | and what more can I say, other than it is an |
| be added. | | | | outstanding piece of work! |
| An average piece consisted of a minimum of 30 | | | | Neither of these boxes is signed, but they are |
| layers, in order that there would not be a trace | | | | nevertheless, of the finest quality. To see the |
| of the wood base, or on larger pieces the hemp | | | | photographs please use the link at the end of this |
| cloth applied in the early layers, to help strengthen | | | | article. These wonderful lacquer works feature on |
| the wood. The Lacquer Artist would have taken | | | | Japanese inro too (the subject of another article). |
| over, only at this stage, to create the decoration | | | | Modern works |
| by the addition of yet even more layers. | | | | A word of warning when buying lacquer, it is |
| The number of colours possible, due to chemical | | | | important that the condition is both good and |
| reactions with pigments and the composition of | | | | original. As there are now some cleverly repaired |
| Lacquer were limited. So Lacquer artists were still | | | | pieces on the market, expert advice should |
| restricted and blue was a very rare colour. | | | | always be obtained. |
| It was the Japanese that developed the idea and | | | | Fine Lacquer is made even today, and there are |
| the techniques of adding gold and silver to liven up | | | | certain living traditional Lacquer artists who are |
| the decoration. Real gold and silver metals were | | | | held in very high esteem in Japan. So much so, |
| used in the form of foil, flakes, metal particles of | | | | that some have been designated as `Living |
| various grades, as well as powders. All of these | | | | National Treasures', and their contemporary hand |
| precious metals were brilliantly used to great | | | | made Lacquer work is in high demand and |
| advantage, particularly in the late 18th and early | | | | extremely expensive. |
| 19th century. | | | | I have seen an example, at a Lacquer study |
| The sprinkling of gold or silver metal particles had | | | | weekend held at the V & A museum. A |
| been used before and over a very long period, to | | | | remarkable modern box that combined thick clear |
| brighten up the interiors. Even very early Lacquer | | | | Perspex with black Lacquer in a geometric design |
| works have `Nashiji' inside. This is where fine | | | | that really was very dramatic. Personally I still |
| particles of gold have simply been sprinkled in to | | | | prefer the earlier works and for the cost of this |
| the Lacquer. Some were scattered unevenly, | | | | modern box a very good collection could be |
| producing cloud effects, whilst others varied in the | | | | formed! |