i have encountered these objects in an exhibition about samurai, they’re dated around 1750 C.E., and there is zero explanation about what material they are made from to cause this marvellous glittery effect
would you happen to have any idea what they might be made of?
An educated guess says it’s either “maki-e” - gold or silver flakes or powder in lacquer - or “raden” - mother-of-pearl fragments in lacquer. Both treatments can produce either that general glittery effect or specific images.
The saddle reminds me of a metal-flake paint job on a custom car. :->
Here’s another saddle (Edo period, 18th century) finished in maki-e…
…while this one from the same period is finished in raden, though the gold mon - crest - at the front is probably maki-e:
This is a much older saddle (Kamakura period, 13th century) also finished in raden, flowers at the front, glitter at the back.
A complete saddle had many more parts than just this wooden seat, and what gets me is how much of the detail would be hidden once the rider was sitting on top…
I suppose knowing it was there was satisfaction enough.
Nowadays the techniques are frequently used to decorate fountain pens. These are raden.
These are maki-e.
This one combines both.
Hope this helps answer the question.
It’s certainly given me a bad case of I-Wants for those fountain pens; from what I’ve read, they write as well as they look… :-D
