Beautiful Japanese Gifts for the Modern Home
If you have ever admired traditional Japanese lacquerware, you could be forgiven for believing that a lacquer box or other genuine lacquer item from Japan is beyond your budget. It's true that vintage Japanese laquer bowls, boxes or furniture can be incredibly expensive -- and justifiably so. As with so many Japanese crafts, the skill and care that goes into creating the finest lacquerware is beyond compare. However, for those of us who love the beauty and luxury of a Japanese-style lacquer finish without wanting to invest in lacquerware antiques, these alternatives make lacquer items for your home and kitchen affordable.
Image credit: jeltovski on morgueFile.com
Text copyright IndigoJanson.
What is Lacquerware?
The Fine Art of Japanese Lacquer
The Japanese have perfected the craft (or should we say art?) of lacquer ware over the centuries. This is no surprise, given the care and attention that is so much a part of Japanese culture.
While you can read detailed explanations elsewhere on precisely how lacquer ware is created, the short answer is that the lacquer is poured very carefully onto a surface, rather than being painted. This approach creates the high gloss finish, unblemished by brush marks.
The lacquers come from a certain type of tree resin, so are a natural product.
A vintage Japanese box or other item can cost a great deal, if genuine. The difficulty for Westerners without specialist expertise is in assessing whether a lacquerware antique is worth the price being asked. Or indeed whether it is an antique at all.
Traditionally, lacquered ware uses black or red lacquers on wood. Sometimes a combination of both colors are used. For a stunning effect, gold powder (sometimes silver) can be sprinkled into the lacquer finish. This is called maki-e.
Japanese Lacquer Ware -- How it is Created
(These images shared under Creative Commons Licenses at time of use)
Lacquerware Making Process 1 (Credit: woofiegrrl on Flickr.com) Source
Learn More about Lacquer Working in Japan
Modern Lacquer Wares Make Enchanting Gifts
Buying Lacquer Boxes, Furniture, and More on a Budget
The good news is that unless you simply have to have an antique, you can buy a variety of Japanese lacquered pieces for your home and kitchen.
These can range from bento boxes and jewelry boxes to wall panels and traditional chests and tables.
The selection of lacquerware below are all available via Amazon.com but have been made in Japan. If you want a genuine Japanese gift, be alert for pieces that have been mass-produced in China or other Asian countries in a Japanese style, but are not actually from Japan.
Lacquer Boxes from Japan
This beautiful Japanese box is a jubako box, used for serving foods on special occasions such as the New Year.
Made in the Ishikawa region of Japan, it features a beautiful motif of fans in red, gold and white. The flower and leaf detail in this design is exquisite.
Of course, you don't have to use a lacquer box like this for your own food -- you might prefer to display it where it can be admired. You can also keep jewelry or keepsakes in it.
This jubako box, also from Ishikawa in Japan, has 3 tiers. Each tier has a plastic lid, making it a practical way to store food if you want to put it to its traditional use.
The lid has the prettiest trailing leaf and bunny rabbit design. This has been created in gold, green, red and white, beautifully set off by the glossy black finish.
A delightful made in Japan bento box. As you may know, a bento box is used for everyday food, and it catching on beyond Japan as a fun and organized way to take your lunch to work or to school.
This box has an enchanting floral design on the lid and is finished in black lacquer. Affordable enough for regular use, even by children, and would make a lovely favor for a special occasion.
Your Views on Lacquerware
Genuine Article or Anything Goes?
Lacquer Trays and Tableware
A beautiful Japanese tray, made from plastic but with a lacquer finish. It has a traditional cranes in flight motif.
This 3 inch square 'box' is in fact a traditional-style sake cup. Finished with red lacquer, it features an elegant gold edge.
This lacquer plate is made from plastic but has a wood look. It is used for serving sushi.
Although it's made from plastic for lightness and convenience, this lacquer bowl is the genuine item from Japan. Intended for udon soup, it's also great for noodles and has received enthusiastic reviews.
Just look at this gorgeous Japanese tea set on a black lacquer tray! It's hard to imagine a more elegant way to serve and drink green tea.
This set is hand-crafted in Japan and would be a perfect wedding gift for a couple with Japanese heritage or a love of Japanese culture.
Japanese Art on Lacquered Wood Gift Boxes
A Selection of Traditional Woodblock Prints on Box Lids
These modern lacquered wooden boxes have art from Japanese woodblock artists featured on tiles set into their lids. The wood is available in 4 shades (ebony black shown here) and in 2 sizes. The large box has a 6 inch square tile, and on the smaller box the tile is 4.25 inches square.
All designs by ukiyoemuseum
Geisha Book Recommendations: Learn about a Japanese Tradition
The Geisha is a symbol of Japan, with her traditional make up, beautifully styled hair and elaborate kimono. Although we think of the Geisha in connec... Read more
Discover the Beauty of a Japanese Fan
If there is one thing that sums up the elegance and refined beauty of Japanese culture, it's the delicate hand fan. A Japanese paper fan combines... Read more
Maneki Neko: Japanese Lucky Cat
A popular good luck gift in Japan, the maneki-neko is a cat figure. Traditionally, the cat has a raised paw, in a beckoning or waving gesture. It is b... Read more
Japanese Kimono and Haori for Women
A kimono is a type of Japanese dress that was traditionally worn both by women and by men up until the end of the 1800s. Today we associate the kimono... Read more
Learn About Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging
Ikebana is a style of flower arranging that is as Japanese as the kimono or the tea ceremony. This floral art has been influenced by both the culture ... Read more