Kamakura-bori

Kamakura-bori (鎌倉彫) is a form of lacquerware from Kamakura, Japan. It is made by carving patterns in wood, then lacquering it with layers of color. It is then polished.

An example of Kamakura-bori
Enlargement showing how polishing reveals layers

In the Kamakura period (1185–1333), carved lacquer from the Song Dynasty of China was imported to Japan by Chin Na-kei (or Chin Wa-kei). However, many Japanese lacquer craftsmen did not adopt the Chinese method of depositing lacquer and then carving it; instead, they created Kamakura-bori, a method of carving wood and then coating lacquer.[1] Kamakura-bori is a technique invented by Kōun (康運) or Kōen (康円), who were busshi (sculptors of Buddhist statues), in order to mass-produce Buddhist altar fittings resembling carved lacquer in a short period of time.

Kamakura-bori was widely used as a box, stand or plate for daily necessities, Buddhist altar fittings and tea utensils.

References
  1. Carved lacquer and Lacquered sculpture Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History

See also
  • 鎌倉彫 (Kamakura-bori) in the Japanese Wikipedia.
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