Event report experience "Confectionery dish made with lacquer sinking"

A workshop was held to commemorate the special exhibition "Urushi Aya Sanka-Aiko Ishimoto Lacquer Art Exhibition-".
This is an experience of "sinking" in which patterns are carved on lacquer confectionery plates and filled with gold powder.
We had customers of a wide range of ages, from elementary school students to seniors.

Instructor is Aiko Ishimoto and her husband Norio.
Both the couple are teachers of traditional craftsmen who are active at the forefront of lacquer crafts.

The first process of sinking is "making a kime". In lacquer work, the design is called Okime. First, select a design and draw it on a trace paper. 6 types of designs that are easy to carve for beginners have been prepared. Of course, you can also design it yourself. It is very difficult to carve curves, so beginners seem to have a good design based on straight lines. It takes at least 6 to 7 years to carve the line as you want with a metal sword.

Trace the pattern with yellow powder from the back of the trace paper with the pattern, press it with a brush to transfer the pattern to the plate.

Next is the process of "carving" using a metal sword.
I can't carve it suddenly well, so it takes about 30 minutes to practice. At first, it is difficult to carve a straight line. Carving the metal sword with an angle and pulling it in the foreground. Explore the angle of the sword and the strength of the sword on your own.

If you're confident, it's real.
Carving with multiple lines, it is difficult to concentrate and carve the tip of the line at one point!

After the carving is completed, ask Mr. Aiko to look at it, correct it as necessary, and carve lines to shine when gold powder is added, and carve difficult curves.

The lacquer is rubbed into the carved groove and glue the gold powder. Dr. Norio put gold powder on each plate so that participants did not wear lacquer.

When you put in gold, the pattern rises, as if life has been blown up! I'm going to cheer up.

Finally, add color with colored powder to complete it.

In order to dry the lacquer and fix the gold powder, put it in a small box, cover it with a wet towel, and leave it in a warm room (possible in a bath) for at least one day and night. Urushi has the property of solidifying at a humidity of about 20°C or more and about 70% or more.

Some people had a hard time working for the first time, but Mr. Ishimoto's politeness
We were able to complete it safely with your guidance.

Making only one confectionery dish in the world with the traditional technique of sinking gold.
Mr. Ishimoto, thank you for the valuable experience!