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As Maki-e, Chinkin should start with Okime, the design
transcription onto the finished surface with Urushi first. Then
very fine special chisels are used to carve and trace the lines
with sticky Urushi by rubbing into it, and finally, gold foils or
powders or colored Urushi powders are sprinkled over it and the
surface is cleaned by Washi, Japanese paper. Wajima is the main
source of Chinkin which was originally developed in the 13th century,
and it is called Sohkin in China. However, today's Chinkin is quite
different from Chinese Sohkin. Wajima is not the only source for
Chinkin. Chinkin can be found in Fukui Prefecture, Akita Prefecture,
Okinawa (Ryukyu), and Aizu of Fukushima Prefecture. They use different
designed varieties of chisels, and yet, Wajima is the most famous
for this art.
Designs of Chinkin
are made by the following techniques.
| 1. |
Ten-bori
(carving by point): The size of points could be as small as
only 0.1mm, and it is the |
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only way to make
the surface for the design by chiseling points one by one. |
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| 2. |
Ten-bori
no Bokashi (Gradation of point carving): Reducing the chisel
points and changing the |
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space between
the points to make the design with gradation. |
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| 3. |
Ten-bori
no Henka (Variation of point carving): To push (Tsuki-nomi)
or draw (Hiki-nomi) the chisel |
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from a
point to carve various short lines in a small space. |
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| 4. |
Suji-bori (Line
carving): Short or long, straight or curved lines can be carved
by skillful craftsmen. |
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| 5. |
Katagiri-bori
(Carving sharp curved or angle lines): Use a special chisel
to carve strong contrasting |
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lines. |
Good Chinkin
can be done only on genuine Urushi surface which has a few special
characteristics such as its membrane no manmade "Urushi"
has.
Our collection:
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