41 English Explanation

This work features a design the artist has long been drawn to: a deep crimson color, with chrysanthemum motifs intricately carved across the entire box. The base wood is ancient cypress from Yashima Shrine, a material used in his previous works. To achieve the desired crimson hue, the artist sought out pigments from around 1970, now no longer available. From the center of the black lacquered lid, chrysanthemum petals radiate outward, carved with varying depths using Kinma. Red lacquer was applied approximately 35 times into these carvings. Gold powder was then incorporated and polished flat, creating a delicate and elegant mottled pattern that varies throughout the repeating design. The bold design covering the vessel's body with crimson lines and the intricate techniques highlighting these details were recognized, earning the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition's Japan Crafts Association Master Craftsman Award.