Blackened Lacquer

Fubako letters-box from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912). Beautiful decorative Fubako letters box from the Japanese Imperial Meiji period, circa 1900. This box has been meticulously crafted in wood with black lacquer and gilding decorations. The long sides are attached with a pair of carvings in coral and gilded sterling silver screws. Created in an elongated rectangular shape with sharp corners, the outside of the lid has decorations in hiramaki-e depicting decorations of Sakura cherry blossom flowers in high relief. The interior part of the lid and the inside of the lower box are fundame lacquered with applications of very fine gold powder. The Meiji Imperial Period This is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji. It was preceded by the Keiō era and was succeeded by the Taishō era, upon the accession of Emperor Taishō. Fubako This is a kind of box. It has been used to store letters, papers, or books, and it is also used to deliver documents to the other party. It is useful not only to store documents or books, but you can also put your favorite small articles or valuables. Or, you can also display it to enjoy as a part of the interior decoration in your room. Hiramaki-e This term is in reference to a Japanese lacquer work, gold decoration in low, or “flat,” relief, a basic form of Makie-e. The pattern is first outlined on a sheet of paper with brush and ink. It is then traced on the reverse side of the paper with a mixture of heated wet lacquer and (usually red) pigment. The artist transfers the pattern directly to the desired surface by rubbing with the fingertips, a process called okime. In the next step (jigaki), the pattern that has been transferred is painted over with lacquer—usually a reddish colour. A dusting tube is used to sprinkle gold powder on the painted design while the lacquer is still wet. Makie-e This is another more complicated technique of Japanese lacquer art...

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