Maki-e (蒔絵, literally: sprinkled picture (or design)) is a Japanese lacquer decoration technique in which pictures, patterns, and letters are drawn with lacquer on the surface of lacquerware, and then metal powder such as gold or silver is sprinkled and fixed on the surface of the lacquerware. The origin of the term maki-e is a compound word of maki meaning "sprinkling" and e meaning "picture" or "design". The term can also be used to refer to lacquerware made with this decorative technique. The term maki-e first appeared in the Heian period.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Makie.jpg/220px-Makie.jpg)
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This technique is the most used technique in Japanese lacquer decoration. The maki-e is often combined with other techniques such as raden (螺鈿) in which a nacreous layer of mollusk shell lining is embedded or pasted in lacquer, zōgan (象嵌) in which metal or ivory is embedded in lacquer, and chinkin (沈金) in which gold leaf or gold powder is embedded in a hollow where lacquer has been shaved.[1]
To create different colours and textures, maki-e artists use a variety of metal powders including gold, silver, copper, brass, lead, aluminum, platinum, and pewter, as well as their alloys. Bamboo tubes and soft brushes of various sizes are used for laying powders and drawing fine lines. As it requires highly skilled craftsmanship to produce a maki-e painting, young artists usually go through many years of training to develop the skills and to ultimately become maki-e masters. Kōami Dōchō (1410–1478) was the first lacquer master linked to specific works. His maki-e works used designs from various Japanese contemporary painters. Kōami and another maki-e master, Igarashi Shinsai, were originators of the two major schools of lacquer-making in the history of Japan.
Major techniques and their history
editClassification by manufacturing process
editClassification by size and shape of metal powder
editThe particles of the metal powder are roughly classified into three types of keshifun maki-e (消粉蒔絵), hiragime or hiragoku maki-e (平極蒔絵) and marufun (丸粉) or hon maki-e (本蒔絵) in order of decreasing size. Fine particles keshifun maki-e are easy to work with, but the adhesion of the particles is weak, and the color becomes whitish with little gloss and looks dull. Large particles marufun maki-e are difficult to work with but have high durability, and have a strong luster and a flashy appearance due to irregular reflection of particles.[9]
Gallery
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Inlaid maki-e raden paper box with "wheels in flow" (katawaguruma) design, National Treasure, Heian period, 11–12th century, Tokyo National Museum
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Inlaid maki-e raden writing Box with "Eight Bridges" ( yatsuhashi ) design, by Ogata Kōrin, National Treasure, Edo period, 18th century. The flowers are abalone shell inlays. Tokyo National Museum[10]
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Inro with the Characters for Longevity and Good Fortune and the "Seven Lucky Treasures" on Checkerboard Ground, Edo period, 18th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Maki-e Fuji Tagonoura, by Shibata Zeshin, Meiji period, 1872.
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Maki-e Writing-table, by Shirayama Shosai, Meiji period, 19th century, Khalili Collection of Japanese Art
Maque
editThe Mexican word maque derives from the Japanese word. It is used for "Mexican lacquerware". Japanese lacquerware arrived to Mexico through the Manila galleons during the Namban period. Mexican artisans fused pre-Hispanic, European and Asian influences in their work.[11][12]
References
edit- ^ a b c Maki-e. The Asahi Shimbun
- ^ a b c d Maki-e technique Vol.61~64. Yamakyu Japanware.
- ^ a b Maki-e (Hira maki-e) work process. Ise Industry & Enterprise Support Center
- ^ Hira maki-e. The Asahi Shimbun
- ^ Maki-e (Togidashi maki-e) work process. Ise Industry & Enterprise Support Center
- ^ Togidashi maki-e. The Asahi Shimbun
- ^ Taka maki-e. The Asahi Shimbun
- ^ Shishia-tokidashi maki-e The Asahi Shimbun
- ^ 継ぎで使う蒔絵粉の種類とその特徴&金粉屋さんでの購入方法. Kintsugi toshokan.
- ^ The upper tier holds inkstone and water dropper; lower tier is for paper; eight bridges design after chapter 9 of The Tales of Ise; irises and plank bridges 1700, Black lacquered wood, gold, maki-e, abalone shells, silver and corroded lead strips (bridges).
- ^ Ted J.J. Leyenaar. "Mexican lacquers from Guerrero /La laca Mexicana de Guerrero" (PDF). Netherlands: National Museum of Ethnology Museum Volkenkunde. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 13, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ^ Kathryn Santner (October 2, 2012). "Writ in Lacquer: A Genteel Courtship on a Mexican Sewing Box". Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- Lacquerware stories/maki-e
External links
edit- Media related to Maki-e at Wikimedia Commons
- Maki-e at Britannica