Kawatsura Lacquer Ware Well known for being robust and hard wearing, Kawatsura lacquer ware is produced in three main stages. First comes the making of the core or carcass in wood. This followed by the many applications of natural lacquer including the priming of the wood and the application of an undercoat, which directly contribute to the sturdiness of this ware. If the piece is to be chased or decorated with maki-e work, there is a final stage of decoration. To produce a piece of Kawatsura lacquer ware takes a year from the initial woodwork to completion. Described below are the main stages in the production of a piece of turnery for a soup bowl or bowl. This page uses QuickTime. To download click on the icon. Stage One Wood: Horse chestnut and beech are mainly used for turnery, whereas cucumber tree is used for making stacking boxes and trays. Because the wood is obtained from trees which are more than 200 years old, emphasis is put on sustainable management of the forests in order to maintain a supply of wood. Stage Two Conversion: Slices from a log are roughly cut down into a block, slightly larger than the piece to be made. Stage Three Rough Turning: The block is fixed to the lathe and after the outside has been roughly turned, the inside is then shaped. After this, the roughly turned piece is put in water to wash out any impurities. Stage Four Drying: Next, the roughly turned piece is smoked for a month to dry it and stop it from distorting. It is dried in this way until the moisture content drops to about 10% and the piece has stabilized. Stage Five Click on the picture for QuickTime Movie Final Turning: After drying and the dimensions have stabilized, the piece is once again put on a lathe and turned until it is smooth and perfect in shape. If a soup bowl is being made, a foot must also now be turned. This is the last stage in the preparation of the core. Stage Six Priming: This is the first stage in the production of a firm ground. Some powdered charcoal is first mixed with some persimmon tannin and then applied with a straw brush and then, when it is dry it is rubbed down. Stage Seven Click on the picture for QuickTime Movie Ground: When the persimmon tannin primer is completely dry, raw lacquer applied with a brush made from the hair of a horse's tail is well worked into the surface. To complete the ground, this process of rubbing down and applying the ground is repeated five or six times to produce a robust, stable piece of lacquer ware, that will be water resistant. Stage Eight Lacquering: The lacquering itself involves the application of an undercoat, a middle coat, a top coat and a final finishing coat. After the first undercoat has dried it is rubbed down. The process of applying natural lacquer and rubbing down is repeated throughout the application of a second undercoat, middle coat and top coat. The layers of lacquer preceding the top coat are gradually colored to match the color chosen for the top coat. Each coat of lacquer is rubbed down until the final application of the finishing coat called hana-nuri. Involving a highly developed technique, this finishing coat of natural lacquer containing some oil is not rubbed down and is allowed to dry to produce a smooth, glossy surface. Any decorative chasing or maki-e work is then done to add an air of splendor to the piece.