Inro
Four-case inro with a mountain torrent design done in gold fundamiji on a black lacquer base, signed Tōyō, 19th century, Edo period; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
fundamiji
Japanese art
Also known as: kindami, kinji
fundamiji, in Japanese lacquerwork, variation of the jimaki technique. In this kind of ground decoration, a thick layer of fine gold or silver grains is dusted onto a freshly lacquered surface and, when dry, covered with a clear lacquer. After this has dried, it is polished with powdered charcoal and given a fine finish by fingertip polishing with a mixture of linseed oil and finely powdered mudstone. When completed, the surface resembles burnished gold or...