Event report experience "Confectionery dish made with lacquer sauce"

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

Lecturers are Aiko Ishimoto and her husband Norio.
Both couples are traditional craftsmen who are active at the forefront of lacquer crafts.

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

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

Next is the process of "carving" using a sinking sword.
Suddenly, I can't carve well, so I need to practice for about 30 minutes. At first, it's hard to just carve a straight line. The sword is carved with an angle and drawn to the foreground. Explore the angle of the sword and the strength of the sword.

If you have confidence, it's a real time.
Carving, it's hard to engrave multiple lines together and focus on one point!

After the carving, Mr. Aiko will look at it, correct it as necessary, and engrave lines and carve difficult curves so that it shines when gold powder is added.

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

When you put in gold, the pattern rises, and as if life was blown in! I can't help but cheer up.

Finally, add color with color 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 (a bath is also acceptable) at least one day and night. Lacquer has the property of solidifying at a humidity of about 20 ° C or more and about 70% or more.

Some people had a lot of trouble with their first work, but Mr. Ishimoto's politeness
Thanks to your guidance, we were able to complete the project safely.

Making only one confectionery dish in the world with traditional sinking techniques.
Mr. Ishimoto, thank you very much for your valuable experience!