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How did the Kamakura-bori technique create red or black lacquered objects?
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lacquerwork
Imperial Chinese throne of the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1735–96), red lacquer carved in dragons and floral scrolls, Qing dynasty; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The Kamakura-bori technique is a traditional Japanese method of lacquerwork that involves a two-step process to create decorative objects:
- Carving: Artisans first carve intricate designs directly into wood.
- Coating: Once the carving is complete, the wooden object is coated with layers of red or black lacquer.
This technique originated during the Kamakura period (1192–1333) and was inspired by Chinese carved lacquer styles, specifically tiao-ch’i, which involved building up many layers of lacquer to achieve relief designs. Unlike the Chinese method that relies on cutting back thick layers of lacquer to reveal a design, Kamakura-bori utilizes the carved wood as the base for the final lacquered finish.12