Wajima red lacquered wooden cup / "Mugiwara" makié

This Wajima red lacquered wooden cup, decorated with "Mugiwara" maki-e patterns, is a fine example of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Wajima-nuri, or Wajima lacquer, is renowned for its durability and elegance, resulting from a meticulous manufacturing process involving over one hundred steps. Artisans use woods such as zelkova, cherry, and horse chestnut, dried for three to five years to ensure their stability. A distinctive feature of Wajima-nuri is the application of multiple layers of lacquer mixed with local diatomaceous earth, giving the pieces exceptional strength.

The decorative technique of maki-e involves drawing designs with lacquer on a polished surface, then sprinkling them with gold or silver powder. The term "Mugiwara" means "wheat straw" in Japanese.