Wajima-nuri×Karakami

Welcoming an elegant new year

The season at the beginning of a new year, is when the heart is in high spirits.

In The Tale of Artisans Vol.1 of the Shiba park hotel, We would like to introduce two types of crafts where the theme is ” Miyabi “. They are “Wajima-nuri”, which is is said to be the accumulation of sincere handcrafts that are “robust and elegant”, and “Karakami”, which has been used to add gorgeous colors to fusuma and folding screens since ancient times. Please enjoy this richly elegant exhibition of works as long as time permits.

What is Wajima-nuri?

Wajima-nuri is one of Japan’s most famous lacquerwares. One of its main features is that a type of diatomaceous earth called “jinoko” from Wajima is mixed with the lacquer undercoating. This increases its durability. Multiple layers are applied as undercoating, then cloth is used as reinforcement, followed by the middle coating and top coating, and finally, the item is polished. This process alone creates quite a beautiful product, but some Wajima-nuri products are also sprinkled with gold or silver powder (maki-e) or are inlaid with gold (chinkin) as further decoration. The area of Wajima has produced many master artisans capable of making these decorations, some of whom were designated as Living National Treasures of Japan. In addition, Wajima-nuri itself was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Japan on April 25, 1977.

What is Karakami?

Karakami is decorative paper passed down from the Tang dynasty in China. Woodblock hand-printing and Karakami sprinkled with gold and silver dust have been applied to fusuma and folding screens to add gorgeous color to spaces since the Middle Ages. Over the Edo period, the production of Karakami, which started in Kyoto, developed into something that suited the Edo taste. There are three main techniques that are “Karakami-shi” for woodblock printing, “Sarasa-shi” using Ise katagami, and “Sunago-shi” using gold and silver foil and dust.

Tale of Artisans Vol.1 MIYABI

Shiba district in Tokyo is a place where you can still feel the wind of Edo-era. Shiba Park Hotel is a good old hotel that has weaved its way through time in harmony with the traditions and culture of this area. Shiba Park Hotel is also a library hotel with a diverse collection of books. We hold an exhibition called “Tale of Artisans” which tell stories of traditions (tales) that they have developed and nurtured.

Date

December 20 (Mon.), 2021 – March 6 (Sun.), 2022

Time

11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Place

1F Library Lounge/ 2F Foyer Book & Culture

Fare

Admission Free

Curated by :https://www.nipponnowaza.com/

Wajima-nuri×Karakami

Welcoming an elegant new year

It is said to be the accumulation of sincere handcrafts that are "robust and elegant"

What is Wajima-nuri?

It has been used to add gorgeous colors to fusuma and folding screens since ancient times.

What is Karakami?

Shiba Park Hotel Book & Culture

Tale of Artisans Vol.1 MIYABI