Wakasa Nuri

A seabed in lacquer

Wakasa Nuri uses eggshell, blue shell, pine needles, hinoki leaves and rapeseed to make patterns that recall the seabed, with gold leaf shining among them like stars or jewels. Because each piece is handmade, no two are the same. It is made in Obama in Fukui as vases, tea and sake ware, and chopstick boxes, and Wakasa produces more than 80% of Japan's lacquered chopsticks.

A year of coats and polishing

• Shell and eggshell are scattered on the surface.
• Blue, yellow and red lacquers are layered on, and the whole is wrapped in gold leaf.
• Fine lacquer is applied dozens of times on top.
• Whetstones and special charcoal polish the layers back to reveal the pattern, then the piece is buffed to a shine.

Patterns from the sea

Wakasa Nuri began early in the Edo period, when a lacquerer of the Obama domain on Wakasa Bay took hints from Chinese lacquer techniques and turned the seabed into patterns. This led to kikujin-nuri, and his disciple created isokusa-nuri. By the mid-17th century decoration with eggshell and gold and silver leaf was complete. The lord named it Wakasa-nuri and protected it as side work for foot soldiers.