Zonsei of urushi (lacquer)

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Zonsei

The patterns are drawn with colored urushi (lacquer) and the outlines and details are decorated with gold.

It was introduced to Japan in the Muromachi period (1333-1573).

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Work procedure

There are some methods, but I will explain the method I learned at Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute.

zonsei description, Japanese urushi (lacquer)

1.	Polish the entire vessel.
2.	Draw the design in black urushi. After it hardens, it is polished with charcoal.

3.	Draw the pattern with colored urushi. Apply several coats of urushi on the areas where you want to make it thicker. After hardening, polish with charcoal.
4.	Polish the entire vessel, including the drawn areas.

5.	Engrave outlines and detailed decorations with an engraving knife (In some cases, the process ends here.)

6.	Glue gold leaf or gold powder in the engraved grooves with urushi.

Since colored urushi is highly viscous, it is difficult to draw with a thickness that does not leave brush lines.

Zonsei in China

It is said that the name of the technique was taken from the family name of a king who was active from the Yuan to the Ming dynasty in China[1]. The body is made of baskets.

On black, red, or yellow surfaces, it is painted with colored urushi and the outlines are sometimes finely engraved or shaded with gold lines.
Mainly “Zonsei works in China" (Cultural Heritage Online)

Engraved and filled with colored urushi on the surface.

1.	Draw patterns with colored urushi.

2.	Engrave the outlines and detailed decorations.

Engraved and filled with colored urushi on the surface.

1.	Engrave the pattern.

2.	Fill the carved pattern with colored urushi.

3.	Polish with charcoal and flatten.

4.	Engrave the outlines and detailed decorations.

Zonsei in Japan

It began at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868) by Zokoku Tamakaji in Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref. He studied and imitated pieces of Zonsei from China. His younger brother made it an industry, but it declined by the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912) due to many poor‐quality products made by manufacturers.
By the Taisho era (1912-1926), craftsmen of Zonsei were reduced to two, Souho Kagawa and his younger brother Seiichi Endo, and after their deaths, Soseki Kagawa was the only one left.
"Soseki Kagawa"(Kagawa Pref.)