Folding Fans On the Wall

A "Japanese fans" view on adding interest to your home with items such as a larger size ornamental (wall) fan.

Oriental Home Decor

The decor that is used to decorate an oriental style home is very ornate and colorful. Traditions from the Orient are displayed throughout these pieces. The pieces themselves can be found on walls in the form of artwork, displayed as statues or other ‘show’ pieces, or the designs could be shown through the very furniture that is placed throughout the home.

Panel pieces in threes (such as a Japanese shoji screen) are very popular for displaying artwork in the oriental tradition. The artwork itself varies by what is displayed on the panels, but it is typically very traditional and colorful. There is a lot of gold, red, and black used as colors in this artwork.

Large, wall-sized fans are also popular for decorating in the oriental tradition. Again, the artwork displayed will vary, but the colors will be similar to those used in panel paintings. The displays may include traditional oriental women complete with hair pulled back and wearing traditional clothing, likewise for Oriental males. They may also display the mythological creature so often seen in oriental design, the dragon, often breathing fire from its mouth.

Colors of walls in an oriental decorated home are most typically white. The red, gold, and black are most often reserved for the complimentary pieces. Clean lines are important to the Oriental home, so the walls will enhance those clean lines by having been painted either white or very light beige.

Those walls will be lined on the bottom by wood grained shoe moulding and trim around doorways in the home. This further adds to those clean lines displayed throughout the home.

Knickknacks will be sparse. They will be well chosen after much contemplation. Not all Oriental pieces are red, black, and gold. Some use blues, blacks, and yellows too, but the first are the most typical.

These traditional colors will be found in a lot of the knickknacks that will be displayed throughout the home. There will be only a few chosen and they will compliment one another.

Plants will also be sparse. An orchid is a popular choice for Oriental decorating, but many green leafy plants will be appropriate too. Orchids can be hard to care for, so some may choose a simply ivy instead.

Artwork, other than fans and panels, will compliment the color choices of the knickknacks displayed. They will compliment the gold in a statue or the red sprinkled throughout the serving dish. There will never be too much color in the artwork, it should be simple, just like everything else discussed here.

Furnishings will be lower than typical to enhance the Zen tradition originated in the Orient. Some furnishing may not have legs at all, they may be nothing much more than cushions on the floor.

Coffee tables and end tables will also be placed lower than their American counterparts. Again, this is to compliment the furnishings that are set lower. Often the legs of the furniture and coffee and end tables turn in. This shape goes along with the Oriental tradition.

An Oriental home is a clean one that displays its cleanliness through the undisturbed lines in the home. There will never be clutter in this style home. All pieces will have been chosen with much effort.

The homes become pieces of artwork themselves and bring peace and serenity to those that are living among them.

Author: Lee Dobbins

Lee Dobbins writes for Decor How To where you can learn how to have great decor in your home and get more ideas for decorating with Oriental home decor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Do feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Futon – Japanese Wall Fans.

Asian Decor: Calm and Soothing

In Asian Decor both Japanese and Chinese philosophies believe that our most basic need is for space. Our spirits need room to breathe, move, and think with ease.

Keep the center of your room open. This principle comes from the Eastern belief that the center of the room represents the heart of your self and therefore should be kept open to allow the flow of energy to have full freedom of action.

One of the first steps necessary to transform a home into Asian decor is banishment of clutter. It is necessary to strip away all that is unnecessary in terms of furniture, accessories, and material possessions. For Westerners, this is a very difficult thing to do. If you want a true Asian style home, this is the first step.

Asian decor is attuned to nature and the environment. It would therefore follow that materials used in this style would be natural and bring good feelings to our senses. Oriental flower arranging in the Japanese Ikebana style and bonsai trees are often used. Bamboo is considered to bring good luck when used in a home. Water fountains are in use to bring calm and order to the mind.

Natural fabrics and materials tend to hold more interest for us. Unlike manufactured products, every piece of natural material is unique. It is impossible to get two stones, two pieces of wood, or two pieces of natural fabric to look exactly alike. Natural materials add a new dimension to a design every time they are used.

Here is a list of items you could use in your Asian decorating scheme:

• Shoji screens
• Tatami mats
• Lacquer furniture
• Rosewood furniture
• Ginger jars
• Items made of porcelain and jade
• Japanese fans and large wall fans
• Japanese lanterns
• Paper umbrellas
• Calligraphy wall hangings

If you are truly looking to create a peaceful haven from the outside world, if you are fed up with materialism and willing to part from your "stuff", if you are attracted to the spirit and philosophy of Asian culture, then perhaps the Asian Style of decorating is exactly what you are looking for.

Author: Gloria Daniels

Gloria Daniels has worked in many areas of the home decorating field and has been helping clients decorate their homes creatively for over 20 years. For more help and hints on creative ways to decorate you home, visit her website at Home Decorating Room by Room While there sign up for her ezine Home Decorating Workshop Each month receive a dozen home decorating tips along with a lesson in how to develop your creativity when decorating your home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gloria_Daniels

Asian Inspired Wedding Favor Ideas

Asian themed weddings are on the rise, and they aren’t just limited to those people of Asian heritage. Many brides are finding themselves drawn to the festivity of Chinese themed weddings or the simplicity of "Zen" Japanese weddings. Perhpas you practice a bit of feng shui in your home, to bring peace and tranquility. Or perhaps your tastes reflect the traditional Chinese style and glamour. Whatever your tastes dictate, an Asian themed wedding is a wonderful way to celebrate your marriage connected to your values and lifestyle.

If you’re considering an Asian themed wedding, here are some ideas to inspire your Asian themed wedding favors.

In Chinese themed weddings, white is considered bad luck (the color of death) and red and black are good (colors of luck and prosperity). You’ll want to keep that in mind while planning your wedding and selecting your wedding favors. These Asian themed wedding favors typically feature bright colors and nature motifs.

Some ideas to consider for your Chinese themed wedding are:

• Red and gold place cards held in a Asian themed place
• Card holder
• Take out containers filled with fortune cookies
• Lucky bamboo stalks
• Chopsticks
• Items with the double happiness character
• Brocade sachets or boxes
• Red mini lanterns
• Hand held fans, Japanese or Chinese
• Red envelopes with lucky coins tucked inside
• Asian themed mints and candies

The above are just some ideas you could select for your favors.

In Japanese or Zen themed weddings, brides should look for simplicity, elegance and natural materials when planning their wedding and selecting their Japanese inspired wedding favors. Crane motifs are used in Japanese weddings, wedding kimono and Japanese wedding decorations because cranes mate for life and are devoted to their partners in all seasons.

Some wedding favor ideas to consider are:

• Japanese paper lanterns
• Chinese or Japanese hand fans
• Chopsticks
• Sake gift sets
• Lucky cat ornaments or figurines
• Kaeru frog charms
• Cherry blossom designed items
• Incense cones or sticks.

Whatever your Asian wedding style, make sure your wedding favors are infused with Far East flair to complement your theme. With a little thought and a bit of searching, you’re sure to find your perfect Asian themed wedding favor.

Author: Erica Tevis

Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Wedding Favors which carries thousands of wedding favors and wedding accessories to suit every couple’s style, theme and budget.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erica_Tevis

Here are more sites about Japanese wall fans, oriental decor fans and other, related topics:

‘Tis a gift to be simple
Kabuki fans are large and graphically dramatic; tea-ceremony fans tiny and more ornamental than functional; and rakugo (comic storytelling) fans are purposely plain so they can be used as stage props symbolizing chopsticks, scissors, (…)

Cool Items
Mini kakejiku Japanese Scroll Art An item that’s custom made for us foreigners, these are small and attractive kakejiku (traditional Japanese wall scrolls) that you can hang up to Japanify your room. … Niko Niko Seaweed Punch for Bento Fans of Japanese Boxed Lunch.

Decorate Your Walls With Oriental Wall Hangings
These attractive wall hangings come in different sizes and designs. Whether you buy them individually or an assorted lot, Paper Cut Wall Hangings are a great way to add culture and color to your walls.

Give Your Room An Asian-Inspired Makeover
Add in some of those beautiful paper fans that add flair of more Asian to your room. These fans will also add color to the neutral color you have painted the walls. Coordinate the fans with pillows that are in the room, or curtains.

Oriental Feng Shui Wall Fan-Blue Horses
This classic oriental wall fan Handcrafted in bamboo and handpainted on heavy paper.Oriental fans has a history of two thousand years in ancient China. Artists express their artworks by drawing and writing on the oriental fans.

Decoration Tips, Ideas, And Technique
Opened Oriental fans attached to the wall at different angles add character. Have your teenager’s favorite quotes, funny sayings, or pleasant reminders plastered on their wall. Cut out comic strips and tack to the walls – this may keep (…)

Technorati Tags: class, fan, gift, giving, home, japanese, style, wall fans, welcomed

Japanese Futon For Your Home

Should It Be Traditional Or Western?

A futon, simply put, is a small couch which turns into a bed when unfolded. It is actually one type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed, sold at specialty stores called futon-Ya in Japan and other department stores. A Japanese futon set usually costs under 10,000 yen (around$83).

Traditional Futon and Western Versions

A traditional Japanese futon set generally consists of a mattress called a shikibuton, a comforter called Kakebuton, blanket called m fu, and a pillow called makura. The makura is usually filled with beans, buckwheat chaff, or plastic beads. The 4 to 5 cm thick futon itself is flat, having a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton and/or synthetic batting.

Futons are designed to be laid on Tatami – a traditional Japanese flooring created from individual woven straw mats of uniform size and shape, bordered by brocade or plain black cloth, and packed with straw. Styrofoam may also be used with the recent ones. The futon can be folded away and stored in a closet called oshiire when not in used.

There is also a futon alternative called a "zabuton" (za, sitting + futon) which is a cushion for sitting, on tatami floors.

Western futons are thicker and larger than Japanese traditional futons, typically filled with foam and batting in a number of layers, and closely resembling conventional furniture.

Unlike traditional futons, western versions are not designed to be stored away when not in use. It is actually a bed -cum- couch to be placed on a configurable frame for the dual purpose.

The western style has also gained some popularity in Japan. These futons are constructed primarily out of cotton and usually handmade. Though having close resemblance with conventional mattresses, they lack the same type of springs and synthetic casings. The western futon version is a cheaper and more convenient substitute to conventional beds.

Basic Elements of a Western Futon

There are three main elements of a western futon – the frame, the mattress and the cover and pillows.

The frame is the foundation for strength, durability and ease of use. It has to be made of a strong, dense wood which can withstand the stress of frequent conversions. The Futon frames are of three types – Bifold, Trifold and Loveseat frame.

In the Trifold frame, the mattress folds in thirds the long way while in the Bifold frame, the mattress folds in half and is best for couches and everyday conversion from bed to couch. In the Loveseat frame, the mattress comes in two parts – couch and ottoman – and is best for small spaces.

The mattress is the seat cushion to provide comfort for both sitting and sleeping. Futon mattresses have to be of good quality in order to avoid hard and uncomfortable futons.

The cover and the pillows are the finishing touches for looks and protection. The futon cover is supposed to be essentially decorative but it is also the component which protects the mattress from dirt and spills.

By: Carl Walker

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Futons are stylish, functional, and versatile; they can be integrated into nearly any setting.

Feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Futon – Japanese Wall Fans.

About Futon – Japanese Mattresses

If you have a difficult of finding the way out from the problem of finding a corner to sleep in a very small rooms, you are not alone! As there are also millions of people who have same problem who are living in cramped quarters, whether they are college students, have too many roommates, or living in a tiny room space.

Apart from saving room space, there are also another benefit of using futon, which is its flexibility of use. You can use futon in the guest room where you also might have limited space and have a wonderfully decorated room making the most out of your limited space.

You can purchase a Futon in a number of different patterns and styles, that will enable you to make the Futon suitable for any guest room’s decor as well as your house style.

Futon is a kind of mattress which originates from Japan. Even though it is now very popular among western countries, the style of mattress itself as well as the usage is not always the same as what they are used for in Japan.

Here, mattress rests upon a Tatami mat and isn’t set upon a bed frame, as is the norm in the West. The Futon mattress also is folded and stored away during the day in Japan.

In fact, Japanese futon are made from natural cotton so it is not harmful to the environment. The normal way to clean this kind of futon is a simple procedure. One would only put it outside in the sun and hit it by using hard bamboo stick to get rid of dust and mold. This is actually a very healthy practice as science is just now releasing facts regarding the problem with germs and bacteria thriving on mattresses and pillows.

In western countries, as mentioned above, the futon is generally placed in a bed frame. Hence, it is uncommon to have it cleaned regularly or taken out from its frame and put outside in sunlight daily (which would be almost impossible). However, one thing is similar, and that is that most western futon mattresses are eco-friendly as well and are made with foam style batting.

Although thicker than their Japanese counterparts, they are often springless mattresses.

By: Tuchchai Suwanawong

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

An Introduction to Futons
What most people probably don’t know is that futon beds originated in Japan. For hundreds of years, Japanese people have slept on thin futon mattresses placed directly on the floor. They saw no need to have an elaborate bed with a frame and box (…)

Where to buy a Japan type futon?
I live in the US and I was wondering where I could buy a japanese-style futon. I would do a search, but I know that all that would turn up is the couchy things that westerners call futons. So does anyone know?

Airing the futon – a daily Japanese ritual
(…) Futon’s absorb body moisture. Remember to air them outside on the balcony in the sun and (…)

Japanese Futons
I personally have no experience with a traditional Japanese futon mattress, or shiki futon, but whenever I see a Japanese style futon on tatami I’m always very envious. Too me, a Japanese bedroom set up on tatami looks super comfy and (…)

How to clean a Japanese futon
You see them smacking the futons to help shake out the dust. Japan is humid and you need to take your futon out of the house now and then for some good sunshine. You don’t sleep directly on the futon. It’s like a bed mattress and I’ve (…)

Technorati Tags: clean, easy, futons, home, japanese futon, magnificent, mattress beds, store, traditional

Traditional Japanese Home

Japan has both modern and traditional styles of housing. The traditional Japanese house is a beautiful sight to behold. Made of wood and paper, it has an organic feel and look that can be found nowhere else. Individual houses in Japan are either single or two stories.

The traditional Japanese house made of wood is expected to last about twenty years before having to be repaired or rebuilt. Each year it is depreciated, unlike homes here in the United States.

The interior design is what really sets the traditional Japanese house apart from European or American designs. With the exception of the entry way (genkan), the kitchen (daidokoro), the bathing room (sento) and the toilet (benjo), the rooms in a traditional Japanese house does not have a designated use.

A room can easily be a living area, a bedroom, a dining room or any combination. Large rooms are partitioned by fusuma, sliding doors made of wood and thick paper. The paper used for fusuma is called washi. These sliding doors can be removed whenever a larger space is needed.

In large traditional houses, there was one large room, or ima (living space) that could be divided as needed. The smaller rooms like kitchen, bath and toilet were small extensions to one side. Rouka, or wooden-floored hallways, follow the edge of the home. Windows are made of wood and shoji paper, which is thin enough to let the light shine through.

Even modern Japanese houses tend to have one traditional Japanese room, called a washitsu. This room is sparsely if at all furnished, and has tatami mats on the floor. In a traditional Japanese house, this style may be reflected throughout the home. Tatami are thick straw mats covered with stitched, woven rushes. Tatami are smooth and firm enough to walk on, while making a sleeping surface more comfortable than wood or stone.

The genkan is usually a step below the level of the rest of the house. When people enter the home, they leave their shoes in the genkan, pointed toward the door so they only need to slip them on when they are ready to go out. Indoor slippers are often worn inside the house.

The kitchen in most traditional Japanese homes will contain a stove with a very small oven and broiler and an electric refrigerator. Counter space for food preparation and a sink are also located in the kitchen.

The bathing room contains a tub and is often waterproof. An adjacent area is available for showering. The Japanese re-use bathwater, either for other bathers or for washing laundry, so it is important not to dirty the water with soap and dirt. Dirty portions of the body can be washed before stepping into the bath.

The toilet in Japan can either be a Western style toilet, or a squat toilet installed in the floor. The room containing the toilet is often only as large as a typical toilet stall, and the person using this room puts on special slippers while in this room.

Heating in the winter is traditionally supplied by a kotatsu. This is a low table with a heating element on the bottom. During cold weather, people sit around the table and keep the heat contained with a light duvet-type cover that surrounds the table.

Author: Robin Mae

Robin loves to learn about new countries and different cultures. You can read more of her latest country of interest, Japan, on her blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Mae

Feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Wall Fans.

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Spider Man Promotes Apartment Rooms In Japan
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Technorati Tags: decor, harmony, home, inspired, japan, japanese rooms, tranquility

Japanese Style Bedrooms

Japanese design and culture has now entered bedroom decor. This is for good reason: Many people find its simple lines soothing. Since your bedroom is your innermost retreat, your sanctuary, it should offer you comfort as you enter the room. By utilizing sparing, but luxurious, Japanese decor and design, you can create a relaxing, meditative, bedroom. How do you go about creating a Japanese styled bedroom? Let’s find out.

Start from the bottom up, and consider your flooring. Would you like traditional tatami (tightly woven straw) mat flooring? It is very comfortable to bare feet. Traditional Japanese design requires a certain mat layout that dictates certain room dimensions. Modern Japanese-inspired decor may use a traditional tatami mat layout as a floor insert surrounded by other flooring or one tatami mat on top of hard flooring to use as a yoga mat.

Next is the central feature of a Japanese-style bedroom – a futon or platform bed. In Japanese design, this bed does not have a footboard or, sometimes, a headboard. It has an extended platform on which the mattress sits in the middle. It usually does not have box springs. It sits low to the ground and sometimes well away from all walls. Use all silk bedding in a single rich color to continue the Japanese theme (and to pamper yourself). Add several silk pillows to your platform bed to complete the effect.

Add shoji-style lamps for lighting. Their translucent panels are especially good for creating warm, diffused lighting. Put one on a dimmer switch on either side of the bed and have bright enough light for reading or soft, romantic lighting from the same lamps. Shoji doors could replace French doors leading into your bathroom or out onto your deck. Skylights also look classy framed to appear shoji-style.

Remember to keep bedside tables and other tables in the bedroom area low. Keep them in proportion to the height of your bed. If your bedroom also has a sitting area, consider keeping the Japanese theme and use a low table and zabuton (the seating cushions).

You should also consider adding a tokonoma, which is a small, raised alcove in which you might display a wall scroll, and other decorative features. A sliding-door wall closet can be opened up and trimmed to make a deep tokonoma. A shallow alcove can be framed out and set in the wall. If you are displaying a tall, narrow object, you can even put a tokonoma between studs. Traditionally, the decorations are changed every month or so. Small geisha dolls, a bonsai tree, or a Buddha statue are other ideas for your tokonoma decorations.

So there you go.

When you are ready for a soothing bedroom makeover, consider Japanese design ideas. Whether you go completely traditional with a tamaki room, and all the proper accents or whether you choose a lighter impact, only incorporating a few Japanese-inspired items in with your traditional bed and flooring, a bedroom with Japanese style elements is a mentally soothing retreat that you will look forward to visiting at the end of a stressful day.

Author: Tom Matherson

Tom Matherson is a writer for Worldwide Tapestries where you’ll see a wide range of wall tapestry discounts to decorate any home, including a fine range of French style tapestries and Oriental wall hangings as wall art to decorate your room or home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Matherson

Feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Wall Fans.

Japanese Bedroom Designs

After a stressful and busy day, wouldn’t it be nice to come home to and rest in a quiet and uncluttered bedroom? This feel is what a Japanese bedroom gives. These Zen designs are proven to provide the sense of tranquility and relaxation that you need. Here are some Japanese bedroom designs that you may use for your own bedroom.

The first item that is vital in any Japanese bedroom is a low platform bed, which may or may not have a frame. Bed frames are usually slanted or curved. The bed is usually placed in the center of the room or facing a window. Windows are usually big and are left open to allow natural light inside the room.

The keyword for Japanese design is minimalism. There are no frills or unnecessary décor. What you see are clean lines and solid dark colors. The wooden bed, which is usually dark brown or black in color, is accentuated by white linen sheets and some pillows with solid dark colors like rust, red, green or purple. And because Japanese furniture is multi-functional, these beds may also provide additional storage. Pull-out drawers are sometimes placed under the bed.

Because there are not too many furniture inside a Japanese bedroom, each piece is essential. What you often see in the room is a dresser, an armoire or wardrobe, and a nightstand. Sometimes there is a tiny tea table and a chair. If more storage is needed, a "tansu" or chest is placed. These chests are usually made of light wood such as elm, kiri or woven bamboo. What’s more, these chests are usually stackable, so as not occupy a lot of space. The furniture also serves a dual purpose. The dresser has drawers for storage purposes. The nightstand also serves as a table.

Another quality of the Japanese bedroom is harmony. That is why each furniture piece is of the same color and type of wood, like mahogany or cherry. Aside from achieving harmony among the furniture pieces, there is also the characteristic of being in harmony with nature. You can place a bonsai or some potted plant in a corner or on top of the nightstand, or a painting with waterscape or scenery may be mounted on the wall. To complete the look, walls are painted with a light color like cream or yellow.

There are other ways to create the Japanese feel in your room. Clear your room of any clutter and take out unnecessary furniture. Add some Japanese home decor like a floor lamp, shoji screen divider or a geisha doll. By changing the décor with Japanese or Japanese-inspired pieces, you can create that look.

Author: Albert Lee

For bedroom design ideas, visit http://www.bedroomdecoratingideas101.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Albert_Lee

Decorate a Room Using Japanese Techniques
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The tranquillity of Japanese bedroom design really helps in soothing down the stress filled moods of our daily life. The Japanese inspired bedroom provides quietude and calmness, taking you away from the bustle of the modern world.

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Technorati Tags: bedroom, class, decor, design, home, japan, japanese bedrooms, simple, soothing

Japanese Lacquer, Finest Sprinkled Pictures

Before I describe these unique and beautiful works of art, exclusively Japanese, I feel that you need to know more about Lacquer, the extraordinary medium that was used. Only then will you fully appreciate these brilliant creations.

For readers who are unfamiliar with old Japanese Lacquer, I suspect you will be thinking of the typical modern Lacquer trays and bowls that are mass-produced. These items are very decorative, but completely fail to compare with the magnificent earlier hand made works.

From China to Japan

Lacquer is really the sap from a tree known as ‘Rhus Vernicifera’. The Chinese were the first to discover and use it, at least a century before Christ, when it was used as a paint, and more often as a preservative. It was a very effective preservative, as many pieces still exist from as far back as the Han period 206BC, when Lacquer was very popular and in extensive use.

The earliest known Japanese Lacquer dates back to about the 7th Century, but it was not until the 14th and 15th century that the Japanese Lacquer works became so much more decorative. By then they had refined and created exceptional techniques, far finer and more beautiful than the Chinese lacquer that they had simply originally copied.

The Chinese had used shades of black, brown, yellow, green, and mostly red or cinnabar Lacquer. They mainly favoured deep carving of the Lacquer, to form the decoration, and produced some outstanding work.

They often applied the colours in layers, so that once carved, these colours would be revealed. One particular technique is known as ‘Guri’ Lacquer: the colours mostly red and black were built up in layers, and then a geometric or symmetrical pattern would be carved with a deep `V’ shaped cut, so that all these alternating layers would be revealed within the cuts. The Chinese also painted, incised and inlaid Lacquer with iridescent pieces of shell, but these works were treasured by the Japanese often more so, than by the Chinese.

To begin with all these methods were copied, but by about the 15th century the Japanese had become, justifiably, the unrivalled masters of the art!

Lacquer was, quite rightly, highly valued for its lasting qualities and strength. A very high gloss could be achieved, proving impervious to alcohol, acids and hot liquids. It would also have appealed to the Zen Buddhism ideals of ‘Yin and Yang’, as Lacquer appears to be so delicately beautiful and light in weight. Yet, it is hard, impermeable and enduring.

The preparation

It is a very difficult medium to work with, uncompromising, sticky, and time consuming. It had to be strained to remove any impurities, and gently heated to thicken, and evaporate any moisture content. All the time it had to be kept in a dust free environment, and added to these difficulties, in its liquid form it gives off a poisonous gas! Strangely, it requires a damp humid atmosphere for it to harden.

It had to be applied in very thin layers, otherwise it runs, and if too thick, will not harden at all but will just form a skin. After each layer had hardened, all the time in a dust free area, it was carefully rubbed down before another layer would be added.

An average piece consisted of a minimum of 30 layers, in order that there would not be a trace of the wood base, or on larger pieces the hemp cloth applied in the early layers, to help strengthen the wood. The Lacquer Artist would have taken over, only at this stage, to create the decoration by the addition of yet even more layers.

The number of colours possible, due to chemical reactions with pigments and the composition of Lacquer were limited. So Lacquer artists were still restricted and blue was a very rare colour.

It was the Japanese that developed the idea and the techniques of adding gold and silver to liven up the decoration. Real gold and silver metals were used in the form of foil, flakes, metal particles of various grades, as well as powders. All of these precious metals were brilliantly used to great advantage, particularly in the late 18th and early 19th century.

The sprinkling of gold or silver metal particles had been used before and over a very long period, to brighten up the interiors. Even very early Lacquer works have ‘Nashiji’ inside. This is where fine particles of gold have simply been sprinkled in to the Lacquer. Some were scattered unevenly, producing cloud effects, whilst others varied in the density. However no pictures were formed.

Sprinkled, not painted!

In the 18th century they invented and refined the idea of sprinkled pictures, and these were used to great effect in what are known as ‘Togadashi’ pieces. They are easily identified, as the surface of the Lacquer is always perfectly smooth in Togadashi work.

These designs and amazing pictures were created purely, by very skilfully pouring various grades of fine metal and pigment powders on to the wet Lacquer, so that they would sink in. There was no way of correcting any errors! Extra layers of the background colour, normally black, would be added over the picture. Then by carefully polishing down until the picture reappears, the top edges of the metal particles would be made to glisten from the polish, providing brilliance impossible to achieve any other way. The last very thin coats would be of the purest clear Lacquer, providing the mirror like high gloss finish.

Various shades of black were created, by charcoal mixed with different quantities of silver powder, so that they could even simulate painted brush strokes. These powders were mainly used for black pictures on a gold background, that one would never imagine were created by sprinkling techniques. What is also quite remarkable, is the very fine degree of control in shading that they were able to achieve. This meant that far more sophisticated pictures could be created, than had ever been seen before.

There are three types of sprinkled picture techniques in all and Togadashi, already described, is my favourite! Another is ‘Hiramakie’, which is where quite a thickly sprinkled gold powder is used, and the lacquer is raised just a little above the background. As usual the surface is polished and burnished, before the final clear layers, and has a very rich appearance. Lastly, there is ‘Takamakie’, which is again similar to Hiramakie, only it is in much higher relief. This thickness was achieved by building up and modelling the areas required in relief, with a combination of Lacquer and charcoal, before applying the gold powder layers.

Highlights of pure gold

Many Lacquer artists made use of a combination of these techniques in a piece of work. Just to further enrich these pictures, finely shaped tiny pieces of pure gold, so small that it is hard to imagine how they were handled, are individually applied near the final surface to create highlights. Frequently these are exactly matched shapes, tiny squares or diamond pieces that are all so amazingly very accurately placed.

Togadashi Boxes

One of our favourite examples of this type of work in this collection is a fine Box that appears as two overlapping boxes. One shows the figure of the swordsmith forging the sword ‘Little Fox’, assisted by the Fox Spirit in the guise of a woman; the other has an overall design of a mass of gold and coloured flowers.

Looking closely at the gold centres of the flowers one can see how these consist of a number of very tiny shaped flakes of gold; each flake has been carefully placed by hand.

It also has a marvellous fitted tray just in gold Togadashi of three foxes running in a landscape with a really dream like quality. The border of the tray is decorated in ‘Gyobu’, which is where each individual flake of gold has also been positioned by hand, rather than sprinkled.

Another wonderful Box that is purely, fine Togadashi, depicts a busy street market scene, and what more can I say, other than it is an outstanding piece of work!

Neither of these boxes is signed, but they are nevertheless, of the finest quality. To see the photographs please use the link at the end of this article. These wonderful lacquer works feature on Japanese inro too (the subject of another article).

Modern works

A word of warning when buying lacquer, it is important that the condition is both good and original. As there are now some cleverly repaired pieces on the market, expert advice should always be obtained.

Fine Lacquer is made even today, and there are certain living traditional Lacquer artists who are held in very high esteem in Japan. So much so, that some have been designated as ‘Living National Treasures’, and their contemporary hand made Lacquer work is in high demand and extremely expensive.

I have seen an example, at a Lacquer study weekend held at the V & A museum. A remarkable modern box that combined thick clear Perspex with black Lacquer in a geometric design that really was very dramatic. Personally I still prefer the earlier works and for the cost of this modern box a very good collection could be formed!

About The Author: John N. Cohen

All about how beautiful Japanese lacquer, found in 18th & 19th century works of art where exquisite pictures were formed, surprisingly, by sprinkling techniques rather than being painted.

The author has been a very keen collector for many years creating ‘The Cohen collection’.

See the photographs for this article by using the following link:

http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm

http://www.jncohen.net/Japanese_lacquer/index.htm

Feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Wall Fans.

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Japanese Interior Design And Paintings

Japanese paintings started off taking their inspiration from the Chinese. Today that still remains the case, but women and landscapes are generally the most popular types of paintings available.

When it comes to Japanese interior decorating, paintings do tend to play a big part in it. Usually the paintings which the Japanese use in their homes are Chinese in style and they often can be fairly complex and interesting to look at. It is all about attention to detail and Chinese paintings offer the Japanese exactly what they are looking for, with some Japanese painters even preferring to paint in a Chinese style themselves.

Japanese paintings throughout the years

When you look back at Japanese paintings throughout history, you will see that in the Muromachi period, the paintings mainly told a deep story behind them. It wasn’t until the Momoyama period in the 1500′s to the early 1600′s, that landscapes were introduced. They were generally quite large and they were produced on large screens.

Following on from that period, from the early 1600′s right through until the 1800′s, the Edo period took place and that was when the paintings really started changing. They started to resemble holy mosaics and were more Western Medieval in appearance. Woodblock style painting was also introduced shortly during this time.

From the late 1800′s through to the early 1900′s, the Meiji period took place. Following on from where they left off, the paintings of this era were very western in appearance. Paintings really started becoming more popular in this era too, with a number of painting schools opening up and offering different styles of painting. In particular, paintings that utilized black ink were really popular and they were known as ‘Suibokuga’ and it was taken from China with the influence of the Zen Buddhism.

However, the Chinese black ink paintings were not always appreciated by some of the Japanese. A man named Kano Masanobu and his son Kano Motonobu, planned to open up a Kano painting school which was basically a protest against the Chinese black ink method. Both vibrant and bright colors were introduced and they provided inspiration for Ukiyo-e designs.

Overall there have been many eras in which Japanese paintings have taken their inspiration. These days, women, landscapes and famous places are the most popular style of paintings that the Japanese like to have on their walls.

By: Adam Peters

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Adam Peters is the author of many articles on subjects like decorating and published at www.home-decorating-reviews.com – A website with tips on japanese home decor, amongst many related topics.

Feel free to read more about decor in Japanese homes and the traditions and flavors of Japan here: Japanese Home Decor – Japanese Decorations & Paintings – Japanese Style Furniture – Japanese Decorating & Ancient Culture – Japanese Wall Decor & Traditional Japanese Decor – Japanese Bedrooms – Japanese Rooms – Japanese Shoji Screen – Japanese Wall Fans.

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