{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O457017"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O457017/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8243/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8243/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT8243","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA3172","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA3175","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O457017","accessionNumber":"FE.553:1-1992","objectType":"Box","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Komori departs from the practice of labour division characteristic of lacquer-making in Wajima. He undertakes every aspect of the design and execution of his work, starting with the felling of the bamboo and its preparation into weavable strips. His work, now reaching maturity, is a manifestation of a formidable diversity of skills which he continues to refine with single-minded dedication. He began his lacquer-making career in 1965, studying chinkin (incised and gold-filled) lacquer decoration at the Ishikawa Prefecture Wajima Lacquer Research and Training Institute (Ishikawa Kenritsu Wajima Shitugei Gijutsu Kenshujo) between 1968 and 1971. He has since gone on to study a wide range of woodworking, basket-making and lacquering techniques, one of his most important teachers and mentors having been the late Akaji Yusai (1906-84; appointed Living National Treasure in 1974), the pioneer of the hoop-built (magewa) technique. Komori has established at the Traditional Crafts Exhibition since 1977.","physicalDescription":"The edges of the lid and the trims of the three compartments are lacquered black. The basketry panels, which are fixed to wooden substructures, are lacquered by the so-called <i>tamenuri</i> technique. This involves covering a lower coating of red lacquer, in this case pigmented with iron oxide (<i>bengara</i>), which clear lacquer. Considerable care has been exercised in applying a sufficient number of layers of clear lacquer to achieve the appropriate sense of depth and translucency without obliterating the texture of the woven bamboo.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Komori, Kunie","id":"A32032"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Black and tamenuri (translucent reddish-brown) lacquer on wood and basketry core","categories":[{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"}],"styles":[{"text":"Heisei","id":"x36359"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AT8243","2021NA3172","2021NA3175"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA006","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA006","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA006","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA006","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES398855"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Box","id":""}],[{"text":"Tier","id":""}],[{"text":"Tier","id":""}],[{"text":"lid","id":"AAT45712"}],[{"text":"Storage box","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1992","earliest":"1992-01-01","latest":"1992-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"26.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"19.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"18.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Maker's mark Kuni in red lacquer on base","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Japan, modern crafts, studio, lacquer; Komori Kunie\n","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Urushi Now: Contemporary Japanese Lacquer</b>\r\nKomori specialises in <i>urushi</i> application, bamboo weaving and woodworking. By combining these skills, he creates lacquerware that blends the texture of woven bamboo patterns. Komori was born in Wajima, Japan’s largest centre of urushi artisans and where the humid climate is ideal for its production. He also serves as the Director of the Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Institute of Lacquer Arts.","date":{"text":"30/04/2026","earliest":"2026-04-30","latest":"2026-04-30"}},{"text":"Tiered box\r\n1992\r\n\r\nThe apparent simplicity of this work belies the multiplicity of skills employed in its execution. Komori undertook each and every stage of the making process, from felling the bamboo through to the polishing of the final coat of lacquer. This way of working is markedly different from the division of labour characteristic of lacquer production in his native Wajima.\r\n\r\nKomori Kunie (born 1945)\r\nWajima, Ishikawa prefecture\r\n\r\nWood and woven bamboo, covered in black and translucent reddish brown (tamenuri) lacquer\r\n\r\nMuseum no. FE.553-1992\r\n","date":{"text":"09/2017-09/2018","earliest":"2017-09-01","latest":"2018-09-30"}}],"partNumbers":["FE.553:1-1992","FE.553:2-1992","FE.553:3-1992","FE.553:4-1992","FE.553:5-1992"],"accessionNumberNum":"553","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":1992,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Box","Tier [1]","Tier [2]","Lid","Storage box"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}