URUSHI
Proceedings of the Urushi Study Group June 10-27, 1985 Tokyo
N. s. Brommelle and Perry Smith, Editors
THE GETTY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
Cover: Food Container, detail Japan, Momoyama Period, 1568-1615 Black lacquer with gold makie The Los Angeles County Museum of Art M.87.202 a.b Iris Blackmore Gift of Donald
&
Coordination: Irina Averkieff, The Getty Conservation Institute, Marina del Rey, California Design:Joe Molloy, Mondo Typo, Inc., Santa Monica, California Typography: Ventura/ Adobe PostScript Stone Serif and Berthold Sabon and Univers Printing: Dai Nippon, Tokyo,Japan
©
1988 J. Paul Getty Trust.
All rights reserved Printed inJapan
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Urushi Study Group (1985: Tokyo,Japan) Urushi: Proceedings of the 1985 Urushi Study Group/ N.S. Brommelle and Perry Smith, editors. p. cm. Bibliography: p.
ISBN 0-89236-096-8: $4°.00 1. Lacquer and lacquering-East Asia-Congresses. 2. Lacquer and lacquering-Conservation and restoration East Asia-Congresses. I. Brommelle, N.S. II. Smith, Perry. III. Title. 85-21394
CIP
THE GETTY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
The Getty Conservation Institute (Gel), an operating program of the]. Paul Getty Trust, was created in 1982 to enhance the quality of conservation practice in the world today. Based on the belief that the best approach to conservation is interdisciplinary, the Institute brings together the knowledge of conservators, scientists, and art historians. Through a combination of inhouse activities and collaborative ventures with other organizations, the Institute plays a catalytic role that contributes substantially to the conservation of our cultural heritage. The Institute aims to further scientific research, to increase conservation training opportunities, and to strengthen communication among specialists.
CONTENTS
Prologue
i:x
Map
x
Chronology
Xl
HISTORY
Hirokazu Arakawa
On the Chinese Kyushitsu Method Based on
3
a Study of Kyushoku-roku Documents Motoo Yoshimura
Innovations in Kodaiji Makie
George Kuwayama
Chinese Guri Lacquers
I3
Beatrix von Rague
Inro Research: Some Proposed Future Steps
23
Akio Haino
Sano Chokan, the Urushi Master, Studied through
3I
7
His Work Norimitsu Kimura Yoshiyuki Kuraku
Heidatsu and Hyomon in the Nara Period
37
Origins of the Use of Urushi inJapan and
45
Its Development Jongseok Lee
Lacquerware in the Unified Silla Period,
5I
with Special Reference to the Finds at Anap-chi Yoshio Hasegawa
Urushi Coating and Color Painting Applied to
57
Japanese Architectural Cultural Monuments
CONSERVATION AND TECHNIQUES
Zhou Bao Zhong
The Protection of Ancient Chinese Lacquerware
7I
Shin Yagihashi
The Preservation and Handing Down of
79
Traditional Urushi Art Techniques in Japan Toshie Nakajima
Conservation of Chinese Urushi: Methods and Difficulties
Shogyo Ohba
The Kyushitsu Technique Demonstrated on a Natsume
W. T.
Chase
Lacquer Examination and Treatment at the Freer Gallery of Art: Some Case Histories
Kenichi Kitamura
Some Thoughts about Conserving Urushi Art Objects inJapan, and an Example of Conservation Work
Susanne Barchalia
Apprenticeship and Conservation
Kyotaro Nishikawa
Dry Lacquer Statues ofJapan
Alena Skalova
Chinese Lacquer
Yoshikuni Taguchi
Essay on Shells That Became Cherry Blossoms
Toshikatsu Nakasato
Urushi Technique in the Prehistoric
9I 95 I3 I2I I27 I3 I39 I47
and Antique Periods inJapan
SCIENCE
Toshiko Kenjo
Scientific Approach to Traditional Lacquer Art
A. Burmester
Technical Studies of Chinese Lacquer
YuminDu
The Production and Use of Chinese Raw Urushi
I5
and the Present State of Research Billie Milam and
X-ray Radiography in the Study of
Helene Gillette
Oriental Lacquerware Substructures
M. Derrick, C. Druzik
FTIR Analysis of Authentic and Simulated
and
Black Lacquer Finishes on
F.
Preusser
Eighteenth Century Furniture Rosamond Westmoreland
Solvent Testing Method for Identification of Oriental Lacquer Used in European Furniture
Ju Kumanotani
The Chemistry of Oriental Lacquer
I99 227 235 243
(Rhus Vernici{lua)
Glossary
253
Oval Tray China, Yuan Dynasty, 13-14th Century Carved red lacquer The Los Angeles County Museum of Art M.81.12S.1 Gift of Mr. Mrs. John Nessley
& H.
PROLOGUE
In I985, the Getty Conservation Institute (Gel) organized an international meeting on the study of Oriental lacquerware-urushi-in collaboration with the Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties inJapan. Held onJune
IO-27,
the meeting included
specialists in the history and techniques of urushi in an effort to stimulate an interdisciplinary discussion and approach to the conservation of this ancient and contemporary art form. The Gel wishes to express its gratitude for the opportunity to cooperate with the Tokyo National Research Institute of Cultural Properties in this important endeavor. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Nobuo Ito, Director of the Institute at the time of the meeting, and to his colleagues who, through the organization of visits to museums, temples, urushi workshops, conservation studios, and manufac turers, facilitated a cultural and technical understanding of urushi objects. The papers presented here are the proceedings of the meeting, which have been edited through the good offices of the International Institute for Conservation. We are very grateful to
Mr.
Norman Brommelle and Miss
Perry Smith who undertook the editorial responsibility. Appreciation is also expressed to Miss Barbara Roberts, Decorative Arts Conservator, TheJ. Paul Getty Museum, who served as coordinator of the meeting, and to the many participants who travelled toJapan from other countries with the hope of gaining new scientific, historical, and cultural insights into the manufacture and conservation of urushi objects. Luis Monreal Director The Getty Conservation Institute
ix
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