Suruga Lacquerware (Suruga Shikki) is lacquerware made in Shizuoka City. In the Kan'ei era of the Edo period, skilled lacquerers gathered from all over Japan to build Shizuoka Sengen Shrine. Lacquerware making is said to have taken root because the craftspeople who stayed in Shizuoka after the construction passed on their skills. Its greatest characteristic is kawari-nuri (decorative lacquer finishes), which applies the basic techniques of lacquering and uses a variety of materials and methods to express distinctive patterns and textures. Kongo Ishime-nuri, devised in the Taisho period, is a technique that uses river sand in the groundwork, and it has been designated a Shizuoka Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property. From the end of the Edo period through the Meiji period, the lacquerware was exhibited at world's fairs and won recognition overseas, and the area eventually became a major production center of export lacquerware. Today it is designated a Shizuoka Prefecture Designated Local Traditional Craft, and in 2007 it became the first regional collective trademark registered in Shizuoka City.
Origin
Shizuoka's connection with lacquer goes back a long way: a lacquered koto (zither) has been excavated from the Yayoi-period Toro site. In the time of the Imagawa clan, a group of craftspeople known as '中川大工' made lacquered bowls in Gokiyamachi. In the Kan'ei era of the Edo period, excellent lacquerers were gathered from all over Japan to build Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, and a worship hall lacquered throughout was completed. The craftspeople who stayed in Shizuoka after the construction laid the foundation of the lacquerware industry.
History
Suruga Lacquerware in the Edo period consisted mainly of simple everyday items, such as bamboo baskets coated with lacquer. A lacquered tansu chest was exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1867 (Keio 3), and the lacquerware also won an award at the Vienna World's Fair of 1873 (Meiji 6). From the Meiji period into the Taisho period, kawari-nuri and maki-e products were created one after another, until Suruga Lacquerware accounted for most of the export lacquerware. When World War I cut off trade with Europe, some craftspeople turned to making lacquered geta. In the postwar years the shift to Western-style coatings also progressed, but the kawari-nuri techniques are still carried on today.
Features
Suruga Lacquerware is characterized by its wide variety of kawari-nuri. Well-known examples include suzu nashiji-nuri, which uses tin powder (suzufun) to express a gold color, and sango-nuri, in which aluminum powder is mixed in and a deep pattern is polished out. 磯谷利三二, who turned from sword polishing (togishi) to dealing in lacquerware, is said to have devoted great effort to developing kawari-nuri. Many tools for daily life are made, such as tiered boxes (jubako), bowls, trays, chopsticks, flower vases and confectionery containers.
Techniques
Kongo Ishime-nuri
A lacquering technique devised in 1924 (Taisho 13) by 鳥羽清一 of Shizuoka City. River sand is used in the groundwork and applied alternately with raw lacquer, hardening into a sturdy groundwork layer. Its strength is that the finished vessels resist heat, water and acid. As a technique without parallel in other lacquerware-producing areas, it was designated a Shizuoka Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property in 2015.
Tombo-nuri
A technique in which a pattern formed by floating it on water is transferred onto the surface of a vessel, and lacquer is then applied over powder sprinkled on top. Because the flowing patterns arise by chance, no two pieces look the same. It is one of the representative kawari-nuri techniques of Suruga Lacquerware.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
鳥羽漆芸
A lacquer workshop in Shizuoka City. Its first generation was 鳥羽清一, who devised Kongo Ishime-nuri, and ever since it has continued to make Kongo Ishime-nuri lacquerware with the same technique. It is also actively proposing new kinds of lacquerware, such as 'Urushi no GLASS' (うるしのGLASS), glassware coated with lacquer.
Official site →安藤漆工房
The workshop of 安藤嘉津夫, a lacquerer of Suruga Lacquerware, in 田町, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City. As a craftsperson with outstanding skills, 安藤嘉津夫 has been designated a Shizuoka City Master of Traditional Craft Techniques (静岡市伝統工芸技術秀士).
漆器製造販売 藤中
The workshop of 藤中知幸, a lacquerer of Suruga Lacquerware. The workshop offers a series of lacquerware to accompany Japanese sweets, snacks and flowers under the name 'Otomo' (オトモ). Its products are also sold at the Takumishuku online store.
Official site →How to Buy
- 鳥羽漆芸 Online Shop
- The workshop has a store on an online shopping site for Shizuoka Prefecture specialties, where you can buy lacquered wine glasses, rocks glasses, sake cups and more. Prices start from about 5,000 yen. The glasses are finished using the Kongo Ishime-nuri technique.Where to buy →PR
- 駿府楽市
- A shop in the ASTY Shizuoka West Building at JR Shizuoka Station that carries Shizuoka's crafts and local specialties. Shizuoka City recommends it as a place to buy Suruga Lacquerware, and it stocks lacquer products. You can also compare them with other crafts from the city, such as bamboo sensuji work and dyed goods.
Hands-on Experiences
駿府の工房 匠宿
静岡県静岡市駿河区丸子3240-1
At the '工房 木と漆' (Wood and Lacquer Workshop), you can try lacquer experiences connected with Suruga Lacquerware. A lacquered ballpoint pen costs about 1,500 yen, and '漆研ぎ 粉貝箸,' in which layers of lacquer sprinkled with shell are polished with a whetstone to bring out a pattern, costs about 2,600 yen. Booking online in advance is recommended.
View details →FAQ
Q. What is kawari-nuri?
A. It is a general term for lacquer finishes that apply the basic techniques of lacquering and combine various materials and methods, such as sand, metal powders and foil, to express distinctive patterns and textures. Suruga Lacquerware has produced many types, including Kongo Ishime-nuri, Tombo-nuri and sango-nuri, and they are the greatest characteristic of the production area.
Q. Is Suruga Lacquerware a national Traditional Craft?
A. It has not been designated a Traditional Craft by the national government, but it is designated a Shizuoka Prefecture Designated Local Traditional Craft. In 2007, 'Suruga Shikki' (Suruga Lacquerware) was registered as a regional collective trademark. In addition, Kongo Ishime-nuri, one of its techniques, has been designated a Shizuoka Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property.