Japanese Wooden Aizu Gold Lacquered Bowls and Plates, Hand-painted with Floral Motifs

Made in Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, which is known for the production of Aizu lacquer ware, these bowls and plates are coated to the interior with fine gold powder and carefully hand-painted with different plants. The set comprises six bowls, six plates, a serving bowl and a small accompaniment bowl.

All are in near-new condition but without box.

The bowls are made of Japanese horse chestnut or zelkova wood and painted over with urushi, or the sap from the lacquer tree, to fortify the wood. A first coat of polishing powder and unrefined lacquer is applied in the process of sabitsuke. The surface is then repeatedly polished and painted over with urushi, until the final coat is added.

Keshikinji is a decoration technique that uses an especially fine gold powder. After the gold is applied, the surface is repeatedly polished with silk floss or deerskin to create a sense of depth. Maki-e (decoration) is done manually by artisans, so each product is slightly different.