A unique waterfall-like architectural lacquered sculpture by Okada Yuji presented at the 33rd National Modern Crafts Exhibition (Nihon Gendai Kogeiten) in 1994. It is created in a contemporary version of the centuries old technique known as Datsu-Kanshitsu. Datsu Kanshitsu is a type of dry lacquer technique wherein cloth or some other pliable material is laid over a wooden structure to create a form. Ofter many layers, creating a solid form, the framework is removed leaving the piece hollow...

Creatures congregate among the fallen leaves and small grasses surrounding this incredible Kanshitsu (dry lacquer) box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yafu (Field Wind). A plethora of techniques have been used to create this box. First the dry lacquer technique means perhaps a year in creating the egg-like shape, due to drying time of the many layers. It is covered in polished black lacquer, with leaves of gold maki-e riven with kirigane cut gold chips...

A Kanshitsu Jikiro (Dried Lacquer box) by Okada Yuji covered in dark lacquer decorated with Kanshitsu-ko (powdered dried lacquer) and gleaming strips of mother of pearl and polished suzu-ita metal over billowing clouds of mother of pearl enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Seifu (Blue Wind). On top a ring of fine mother of pearl flakes studded with solid discs of hirame gold indicate the sun...

Like the layered hills of Kyoto at twilight, this vase is of Kanshitsu dry lacquer body with layers of colored Urushi by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is 31 cm (just more than 12 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project...

A 7 tiered pagoda like Tower in red and black lacquer by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 13th Nitten National exhibition in 1981 titled Hokuto no Shirushi (Guide to the North Star). It is made of wood cores around a metal box, each “wing” covered in alternating layers of red and black with sheet suzu metal edging. On top is an acrylic panel engraved with a target finder-like symbol (guiding us North). It is roughly 60 cm (2 feet) square, 38 cm (15 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

A wave like form seemingly cut from stone decorated with a river of black lacquer in which flows inlayed mother of pearl and Suzuita metal strips by Okada Yuji exhibited at the 32nd National Modern Crafts Exhibition in 1993. An exciting and striking work sure to inspire conversation. It is 43 x 55 cm. The height is dependent upon how it is displayed (we currently have one side elevated to flow like a waterfall)...

Thick hirame polished gold disks glimmer on the surface of this peach-shaped container by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Toju. The peak is tinged pink, while a green leaves embedded with kiri-gane gold wrapping up the sides. A striking work of kanshitsu (dried lacquer art) from the pinnacle of the artists career. It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) tall, the same diameter and is in excellent condition...

Geometric designs in glimmering Raden (abalone shell) cross the surface of this intricate box by Okada Yuji enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Youko. Inside gold nashiji glistens on the mirror black surface. It is 15 x 15 x 11 cm (6 x 6 x 4-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
Okada Yuji was born in Kyoto in 1948 and graduated with honors from the Kyoto Hiyoshi-ga-oka High School Lacquer Course, Receiving top prize for his graduation project...

Vermillion lacquered gourd confectionery bowl (Kashiki) made by Ishikawa artist Maehata Harusai, the 3rd.
Elegant rounded shape with color contrast gives a graceful appearance.

The bowl was exhibited at Mitsukoshi Art Club in 2012 in "Tea Ceremony Lacquering Thirty Years - Harusai Maebata Exhibition".

3rd Maehata Harusai is one of the leading lacquer artists from Ishikawa province.
Born in 1964 as the eldest son of Harusai, the 2nd, he studied Kaga Makie under Min...

Exquisitely painted cherry blossoms (sakura) and willow branches (yanagi) on a background of jet-black traditional lacquer.

The craftsman, Wakashima Takao (b. 1935) was born in the north of Japan in the picturesque town of Wajima. The lacquer technique particular to this region (Wajima-nuri) is rather unique in its use of an undercoating incorporating special compounds that make it exceptionally durable over time...

A Japanese Contemporary Large Bamboo Sculpture made of thin strips of madake bamboo and lacquer. The artist is using an irregular, open work plaiting technique creating a kind of large cocoon shape. It can be seen from different angles and it can also be use for flower arrangements as there are openings through which a receptacle can be placed inside. But it can be admired simply as a sculpture. Made by Homura Reiryu ( b. 1970 ) from Oita prefecture, Kyushu, Japan...

An unusual lacquered flower vase, hanaike, by the eminent bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai II ( 1919~2000 ). The black lacquered bamboo vase is decorated in vermillion lacquer with a sago palm and is also signed. The vase is complete with its original blue cotton bag and a signed and inscribed box.

Chikuunsai I began the family tradition of making fine bamboo crafts in 1890, it still flourishes today under the direction of Tanabe Chikuunsai III.

Approximately 30 cm high. Fine...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, an inscribed lacquerware covered vessel from the famed U Aung Myint workshop in Myinkaba Village, Pagan Burma (Myanmar), from which the British Museum has commissioned pieces for display in London. See Isaacs and Burton, Visions from the Golden Land, Burma and the Art of Lacquer page 222-223. We had the honor, privilege, and education of watching artisans in this famous lacquer workshop creating modern masterpieces in the yun style, an extremely labor intensiv...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a lacquerware masterpiece from the famed U Aung Myint workshop in Myinkaba Village, Pagan Burma (Myanmar), from which the British Museum has commissioned pieces for display in London. See Isaacs and Burton, Visions from the Golden Land, Burma and the Art of Lacquer page 222-223. We had the honor, privilege, and education of watching artisans in this famous lacquer workshop creating modern masterpieces in the yun style, an extremely labor intensive craft where ...

A richly hand painted, lacquered wood picture frame with a hand combed faux finish, made by European artists Daniel Grant and Ingela Noren; stamped with maker's mark in gold on reverse; Measurement: Outside dimensions:  11 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches; suitable for a 5 x 7 image. Condition: new

The last work by this important artist, a five piece stacking box decorated in iconic Dragonflies by Okada Yuji enclosed in a custom made wooden storage box. This piece was completed in 2022, shortly before he passed away. The dragonflies are performed in colored lacquer and gold powder with carved and polished Yellow and White Oyster-shell eyes. They fly over a swirling sea of Mother of Peral flakes. Inside is all Nashiji powdered gold. The boxes (stacked) are 23 x 23 x 39 cm (9 x 9 x 15-1/2 in...

A wine glass with design of undulating colored ribbons in colored lacquer, gold and mother of pearl designed by Okada Yuji at his Shiun studio enclosed in the original signed wooden box. It is roughly 8 cm (3-1/4 inches) diameter, 21 cm (8-1/4 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
This is not dishwasher safe

A sumptuous design of white flowers among dark leaves on a cream-colored dry lacquer form by Okada Yuji exhibited at the Kyoto Kogeikai Kaiten in 2020. It is performed in multiple layers, first the form of dry lacquer, which entails a great amount of time in creation, layer upon layer of lacquer, cloth, paper and Tonoko powder. Then has been applied thick colored lacquer with tataki-nuri texture over which the cream-colored white lacquer is applied. This is ground down to reveal the ridges of...