Amazing, Natural "Shikki"
To fully appreciate what makes Japanese lacquerware, a basic understanding of "shikki" (Japanese lacquerware) is required.
natural "urushi" lacquer during and after harvest
"Shikki" is one of the oldest traditional Japanese crafts, with a history going back more than 1,000 years. It is made by harvesting the sap from a certain tree native to East Asia which is then treated to become an all natural resin-like coating called "urushi". Urushi is typically mixed with other natural pigments and painted onto everything from furniture to dishes, and even buildings (some well-funded shrine and temple buildings are still painted with beautiful urushi to this day).
A shrine building decorated with lacquer and gold
Urushi was traditionally reserved for very valuable items, as the raw material and labor-intensive process of crafting lacquerware are quite expensive. Urushi is particularly suited to use on dishes as when it hardens, it creates a highly durable coating that protects the wood or other base material below it while adding a beautiful appearance and other beneficial properties.
Japanese lacquerware today
Use of real lacquerware is decreasing year by year in Japan. In general, there is a decreasing demand for traditional items in Japan, as many people have come to favor cheaper, mass-produced items instead. It’s possible to buy fake lacquerware made of cheap polyurethane that looks fairly convincing at a fraction of the price of real lacquerware. Of course, this fake lacquerware lacks all the impressive characteristics of the real thing and also can’t be refurbished over time, making it a second-rate option.
However, as times have changed, lacquer research has also progressed and led to the development of new types of lacquer that are better suited to the needs of the modern era. Today, it is possible to find lacquer that is still 100% natural, but processed in such a way that it is dishwasher safe and will last years.
Today there are a wide range of items available using natural urushi lacquer, from traditional items that haven’t changed in hundreds of years, to brand new products that use it in creative ways.
We at tsunagu Japan love lacquerware, and hope that the tradition of the craft will be preserved as innovative new products continue to be made.