Urushi Works


A collection of unique urushi works made by Martin Pauli, featuring techniques like dry lacquer "kanshitsu" and experimental lacquer "kawari-nuri". Touch them, however, and it is immediately apparent that the eye has been deceived.  There is no stone, iron wood or fabric. All is recreated in lacquer. In Japanese lacquer arts there is a rich tradition, dating back to at least the 18th-century, of using lacquer in replication of materials. The 19th century artist Shibata Zeshin perfected such techniques.


see detail