GOTONURI

Development of Technique

Around 1898, (30th year of the Meiji Period) the Takamatsu samurai Taihei Goto initiated this art. In the beginning it was created as a hobby and his father who was the Takamatsu fief's administrator and an active practitioner of tea ceremony enjoyed friendly relations with the creator of kinma, Zokoku Tamakaji.

Goto was skillful from the time he was a child and learned engraving techniques from Tamakaji. He also showed interest in bonsai, Chinese drawing, calligraphy and antiques; collecting writing tools, and also displaying a preference for 'sencha' or green tea. This all combines to produce an image of a dilletante with an avid interest in utensils of tea ceremony who even went on to create his own containers and cups using chisel or plane.

His initial intention was simply to make a red lacquer plate, but because the color possessed a greater red hue than desired, he coated the layer with fresh, rough lacquer creating a work of unexpressible beauty. This was the start of Gotonuri.
Nowadays the technique is also used for paint solidifiers, household goods, low Japanese style tables and western style furniture. In 1976, Kagawa also became designated as an important region of production for gotonuri, as enacted by Japan's traditional craft industry production promotion legislation.

GOTONURI ARTISTRY

Gotonuri is used in turnerys and joineries and on top of the lacquer ware's hardened middle side a small amount of wax color mixed with red lacquer is thinly applied to give the effect of sobriety. On this surface a special design is created using the fingertips in vertical motions and then painted with a further thin coat of lacquer. After completion the entire piece looks as if it is covered indiscriminately with black.

With the passing of years, the degree of transperency begins to increase and the red lacquer speckling created by fingertips becomes more pronounced.

The layer of the lacquer in the cavity becomes thicker, while the outer convex sculpted layer grows thinner. The red color taking on a refreshing appearance and contrasts of light and shade and balance of beauty achieve alignment. The luster increases and the true character of gotonuri emerges and because of its inherent stability gotonuri is presently used for Japanese style low tables, dining ware and western style furniture.