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Negoro Ware - The Beauty of Red Lacquer

  • Image of "Red-lacquered wine bottle, Muromachi Period, 16th century"

    Red-lacquered wine bottle, Muromachi Period, 16th century

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 13
    September 6, 2005 (Tue) - December 11, 2005 (Sun)

    Many of the furnishings and utensils used at temples and shrines during the medieval period are coated with red lacquer. Today, such old objects with red lacquer are called negoro-nuri. Red lacquered utensils were already in use during the Heian period (794 - 1192). However, it is thought that during the Kamakura period (1192 - 1333), the priests who had moved from temples on Mt. Koya to Negoroji temple in Kii province started producing these various utensils for use at the temple. The red-lacquered utensils produced at Negoroji came to be called negoro-nuri; and as use of the name spread, all red lacquered items came to be called negoro-nuri.

    Most negoro-nuri consists of coatings of black lacquer covered with coatings of red lacquer. After the wear-and-tear of many years of use, the red lacquer is worn away, exposing the black lacquer coating underneath in various places. The lacquer coating degrades, which causes fine cracks to appear and gives the surface a unique weathered appearance that cannot be replicated. Their simple and efficient shape also has a modern and sharp sense, since negoro-nuri utensils also have many practical uses.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Red-lacquered oshiki(plate) and keisu(cup stand), Muromachi period, dated 1457 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Masumida Jinja, Aichi)
Red-lacquered tray with three legs, Nanbokucho period, dated 1379 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Hotsumisaki-dera, Kochi)
Red-lacquered wine bottle, Muromachi period, 16th century