About Gyoku, Suzuri, Kirikane, Ivory
当サイトで「諸工芸」と分類して扱っている、長い歴史と伝統に支えられたガラス、七宝、砡、硯、截金、象牙の特色ある工芸技法をご紹介します。
| Gyoku (carved hardstone) |
Gyoku refers to hard and precious stones such as jadeite, agate, and crystal. These raw stones are carved to create artworks such as tea bowls and incense containers.
〈Making Process of Gyoku〉
1. Cut out based on the pattern of the raw stone
2. Make incisions along the teeth marks to fit the shape of the artwork
3. Use a sand-coated iron wheel on a polishing machine to grind by rotating
4. Burnish with polishing powder on a wooden wheel to finish
Suzuri (inkstones)
Suzuri is a tool for making ink for writing with a brush, and is important stationery item to calm the mind while grinding ink. The making process involves roughly cutting the material stone into the shape of a suzuri, using a long-handled chisel to carve out flat areas for ink and concavities for collecting ink. Processed suzuri is coated with urushi or wax for the completion.
Representative stones include amehata rock (slate) from Yamanashi Prefecture, Akama rock (diabase tuff) from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Hōraiji rock (shale, slate) from Aichi Prefecture.
〈Making Process of Suzuri〉
The materials used are stones such as slate and serpentine rock. A long-handled chisel is used to carve the inkstone, supporting it with the shoulder while carving with the chisel.
Kirikane (cut foil embellishing)
Originally a technique for decorating Buddhist statues, today kōgei crafts such as decorative boxes are created. The process of making kirikane artwork involves stretching gold leaf like paper, then heating and bonding it with charcoal fire to increase thickness. The bonded gold is finely cut into lines, squares, triangles, etc., with a bamboo knife. Using a brush, the gold leaf is applied according to the pattern and completed.
Zōge (ivory)
Zōge refers to elephant tusks. Because of its appropriate hardness, flexibility, and beautiful luster, in the Edo period, intricately carved zōge ornaments called "netsuke" (like a strap) became popular. Shapes are created from ivory pieces around 15 centimeters in diameter using chisels and files. Smooth out the surface irregularities with a small knife, then polish with polishing powder or deer antler powder. Additionally, a technique ”Bachiru” in ancient Nara period in which finished zōge is dyed red or blue, and fine lines are carved from the surface of the dyed color is restored, now kōgei are created using this technique.
＜Source: "What is Traditional Kōgei?” Edited by Japan Kōgei Association East Japan Branch / Published by Unsodo, P.66,67>
