Yamanaka Lacquer / ISHIKAWA

Showing off the texture of wood

Lacquerware made in the Yamanaka Onsen area of Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
The most distinctive feature of Yamanaka lacquerware is the lathe technique, which is the foundation of Yamanaka lacquerware, in which a wooden log is hollowed out with a plane to create a shape.
A major feature of Yamanaka lacquerware, which makes use of the wood grain pattern and expresses a natural texture, is its vertical cutting of the wood, which follows the shape of the vessel in the direction the wood grows.
This produces robust lacquerware that is less susceptible to distortion due to drying, and makes it possible to produce exquisite finishes not only for bowls, but also for thin-cut pieces and lidded containers.