Lacquer Jewellery

Jewellery

My jewellery was always made on a wooden base until I was asked by a jewellery company in Tokyo to design and make some pieces for them using maki-e on opals and cameos. This was the first time for me to use precious stones in combination with urushi, it was a difficult but an  exciting challenge as it combined two of my passions. Since I was a child, I have always collected semi-precious stones and crystals and beachcombed for shells, sea-glass and other treasures. I also saw an opportunity to build a bridge between Japan and Western countries in that whilst Europeans might not understand the value of a lacquered rice bowl, they would most certainly know the value of jewels and gold and so I would be able to introduce the traditional urushi techniques of gold maki-e.

I started to produce my own collection by carefully selecting pieces of lapis lazuli, amber, opal, coral and pearls, always bearing in mind what design would complement the stones. Working in such a tiny world in fine detail is a good contrast to the spacious freedom of working on washi.

Due to the rapidly changing culture in Japan which is becoming more and more westernised by the day, I felt an anxiety that the younger generation of Japanese knew little of their traditional roots and what an important and integral role urushi plays in it. As more and more craftsmen disappear, unable to sustain themselves, there is a very real danger of urushi culture disappearing before the youth of today have a chance to appreciate it. To this end I have developed a series of affordable, modern jewellery for everyday wear as well as for special occasions. By wearing accessories made from urushi, I hope my clients will fall in love with urushi’s beauty, rich lustre, lightness and elegance. To add a modern twist and translucence, I have incorporated semi-precious stone beads such as amethyst, labradorite, rutile quartz, crystal as well as coral and freshwater pearls.