Japanese panel lacquered wood gilding maki-e characters landscape Japan 19th century
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Japanese panel in lacquered and gilded wood, with mother-of-pearl inlays, decorated in maki-e* of two characters in a landscape among reeds, under a beautiful flowering tree, from Japan, vintage 19th century.
This sign is in good condition and is of great quality.
Note: some scratches and slight wear over time, see photos.
* Maki-e represents the most sophisticated technique of lacquer art, designating decorative work where dust, particles of gold or silver are delicately sprinkled on still wet lacquer, generally black, to create the pattern. The powder embedded between each layer of lacquer helps to bring out the decorations by illuminating them. Maki-e itself has given rise to a flowering of techniques specific to it. The first is without any relief (togidashi maki-e). The second offers a slight relief (hiramaki-e). The third type of decoration, which appeared in the Kamakura period (1185–1333), is distinguished by a strong relief (takamaki-e) obtained first by applying dry lacquer powders, charcoal or tin. and then by applying a treatment identical to that of Hiramaki-e. One of the greatest beauties of lacquer is that it adorns both the most precious and everyday objects. Lacquerware bowls and tableware span the centuries, as do boxes with multiple uses: document boxes, tea boxes, incense boxes, brush boxes, ink boxes, card boxes, medicine boxes, etc. (Extract from Proantic magazine)