352 ART INDUSTRY AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS. 



of this, the common lacquer wares are sold at very low prices, 

 it is to be explained by the fact that it takes but a very small 

 quantity of this expensive material to paint over a large surface, 

 and that the necessities and wages of the Japanese workmen are 

 very small. 



Nashi-ji and Shu-urushi, and the nearly related Shiyun-kei 

 and Jo-tame, are classed together as Suki-urushi, i.e. transparent 

 lacquer. They are free from iron admixture, are of a reddish 

 yellow colour, and transparent in thin layers, and are used mainly 

 in the final operations of the lacquerer. Nashi-ji gets its name 

 " pear ground " from, its use in a kind of surface decoration with 

 coarse gold powder or its bronze substitute, which is said to be 

 an imitation in colour of the Japanese pears. This most expen- 

 sive of all lacquers contains i per cent, of Shio, or gamboge, which 

 is added in powder or concentrated solution to the Ki-sho-mi 

 after it has been pressed through hemp-linen, either before or 

 while it is being stirred in the sun. From i6 to i8 hours are neces- 

 sary for the evaporation of the water, steady stirring, according to 

 the degree of warmth and amount of moisture in the air. 



The Nashi-ji is then pressed twice through the cotton filter, 

 and can be used without any further process. Shiyun-kei is pre- 

 pared in a similar way, but with less quantity of raw lac, and 

 with an addition of Ye-no-abura (Perilla oil). Instead of gamboge, 

 also plum juice (from the fruit of the Mume) is used, or the 

 yellow extract of Kuchinashi, i.e. the fruit of Gardenia florida. Jo- 

 tame is obtained by exactly the same process save that a thicker 

 raw lac is used. 



Shu-urushi, cinnabar lacquer, is a transparent variety, which is 

 prepared like Nashi-ji from the best raw lac taken from the 

 lower part of the trunk, at the hot Doyo (dog-days), but is dis- 

 tinguished from it by an addition of from I to lo per cent, of 

 Yegoma-no-abura. It is called cinnabar lacquer, because cinnabar 

 is carefully and thoroughly rubbed into it, and it is used in pro- 

 ducing this colour in painting. To produce very ordinary red 

 colour, Beni-gara or colcothar is sometimes used. 



Kuro-urushi is the collective name of all black lacquer, which 

 is prepared by adding to the purified and filtered raw lac a 

 solution of some salt of iron (green vitriol or acetous ferric 

 oxyde) or Toshiro (iron filings water) and then expelling the 

 water again by stirring. In the preparation of Ro-iro-urushi, or 

 best black lustrous lacquer, a very good quality of purified raw lac 

 is used, and to Wata or Nuno-goshi, Haguro, a solution of acetous 

 protoxide of iron is added, and the whole is stirred in shallow 

 pails or small tubs in the sun or over a moderate fire, till the 

 water is fully evaporated. (This protoxide of iron is the material 

 generally used by Japanese women for blacking the teeth. It is 

 obtained by pouring rice beer or vinegar over iron nails or iron 

 filings and keeping the solution for several days in a warm place.) 



