Superb technique of miniature painting

It is hard to believe that human hands could have created this work, as the fine patterns are painted without gaps on a vessel measuring only 7 cm in both height and diameter. It was created by Kazuhiko Komekyu, who has been engaged in Kutani-yaki for 30 years.

The history of Kutani-yaki can be traced back to the early Edo period (around 1650). The history of akae (red painting), which is characterized by detailed red and gold painting, is relatively new, having emerged at the end of the Edo period.

At its peak during the Meiji period (1868-1912), there were 200 to 300 craftsmen engaged in akae, but the number has declined to less than 20 today.

Komekyu, who has inherited the art of akae, celebrates the 30th anniversary of its creation in 2020, so he went back to the basics and placed the net motif, the basic motif of akae, on the inside and painted his original chintz komon on the outside.

Komekyu describes what is necessary to create a work of art as "mentality" and "physical strength to keep sitting. His brush strokes reveal his state of mind, and since no two painting processes are the same, no two works are ever the same.

The paints he uses are original. Red shells, rusty iron, and glass is added to give them a luster. If the bristles of the paintbrush are new, the pattern cannot be painted. The brushes are used for 3 years for underpainting, and only the core is left when the oil has been drained. By taking care of them, brushes can be used for 10 to 15 years.

Red is a color used in Japan for celebratory occasions, and the motifs of his works also represent auspiciousness.

Komekyu says, "I want people to put their precious things in this case and enjoy them from time to time in their daily lives."

○Specifications

• Size: diameter 71 × height 72 mm

○Shipping 

• This product is made to order. Shipping within 6 months.