Nagiso, Nagano Pref. ¨C On the one hand: an ancient Japanese lacquerware technique dating back to the Heian Period (794-1185), famed for its delicate beauty, seasonal motifs and rich heritage. On the other: a 6-year-old girl who finds it hard to sit still and would rather be making ¡°machines¡± out of twigs, stones and sticky tape.
I admit, I wasn¡¯t quite sure what to expect when my youngest daughter came face-to-face with the very refined world of maki-e during a children¡¯s workshop in a century-old atelier in Nagano Prefecture.
The art of maki-e has long been treasured in Japan. A clue into the craftsmanship that lies behind the lacquerware decoration technique is found in its name ¡ª which translates as ¡°sprinkled picture.¡±
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