Tebako (box for personal accessories), inlaid with mother of pearl depicting hibiscus, chrysanthemums and herbs, wood, lacquer, gold Raden inlay (maki e), length 25.4 cm, early 20th century.
Raden is a Japanese term for the technique of inlaying mother-of-pearl or mollusk shells into wood or lacquer. Raden came to Japan from China during the Nara period (710-794) and was used to decorate handicrafts in combination with other Japanese techniques such as maki-e (powder gilding).
Tebako (box for personal accessories), inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting hibiscus, chrysanthemums and herbs, wood, lacquer, gold inlay (maki-e), length 25.4 cm, early 20th century.
Fubako (document box), lacquer, aogai mother of pearl, maki e gilding, length 23.5 cm, 17th 18th century.
There are several variants of raden: atsugai-ho – using thick pieces of shells, busugai-ho – using thin mother-of-pearl. In atsugai raden, mother-of-pearl inserts are cut with a saw, then processed with a file, in busugai raden, the elements of the pattern are cut out using a template and a special punch. In both techniques, the surface of the shell is often finely engraved, and in some cases the back of the shell is painted or lined with gold foil. Mother-of-pearl of great thickness is usually inlaid into pre-cut recesses, and thin mother-of-pearl is pressed into a layer of varnish or applied with glue.
Nanban lacquer cabinet, height 27.7 cm, Momoyama period, late 16th century.
Warigai-ho is a technique that uses thin, not thicker than eggshell, cracked mother-of-pearl. A common method for creating these cracks is to stick seashells on rice paper and wrap the paper around a chopstick. In the Makigai-ho technique, the shells are finely crushed and scattered over the background.
The decor of the left side panel of the cabinet, inlaid with mother of pearl (raden) and gold (maki e).
Raden technique was often used to finish pieces of furniture. In Europe, chests of drawers and cabinets from Japan, decorated with mother-of-pearl and gilding, were valued as attributes of unique luxury. The Japanese called these goods “Nanban lacquered goods”, with Nanban meaning “Southern barbarians”, a term borrowed from China, and in 16th-century Japan meaning any foreigner, especially a European.
The most famous masters of the Edo period who worked in the raden style are Toshichi Ikushima, Tebei Aogaya and the Somada brothers.
The decor of the right side panel of the cabinet, inlaid with mother of pearl (raden) and gold (maki e).Table top decor inlaid with mother of pearl (raden) and gold (maki e).Kikyoku (Sencha tea ceremony cabinet), red lacquer, sheet lead, mother of pearl, 62 cm wide, by Junichiro Yoshida (1898 1969), 1941.Suzuribako (writing box), gold lacquer, mother of pearl Raden inlay, length 25 cm, 20th century.Gold lacquer inro with rooster and chick, by Iitsuko Toyo, 8.5 cm high, 19th century.Okimono (sculptural decoration) in the form of a raden partridge, inlaid with tinted mother of pearl, height 7.7 cm, late 19th century.Black lacquer shibayama style inro with peonies and butterflies, 8.5 cm high, 19th century.Unusual box of the Meiji period in the form of a drum topped with an ivory cockerel, master Shinsui, height 13.2 cm.Shibayama gold lacquer inro with raden style partridge under berry bushes inlaid with coral, Master Shokasai, height 8.5 cm, 19th century.Wooden lacquered panel depicting monkeys on a flowering branch, inlaid with mother of pearl, gold, brown, silver and black maki e, height 76 cm, by Shibafune and Kakihan, late 19th century.Inro in gold lacquer in the shape of a shibayama moon, depicting rabbits bringing gifts to a deity seated on a throne among the clouds, by Shinichi, 9.3 cm diameter, 19th century.Shibayama style silver dish inlaid with ivory, mother of pearl and coral, diameter 31.3 cm, Raden inlay, made by Shunryusai and Motoharu koku, 19th century.Box with Shibayama style lid, lacquered wood, mother of pearl, ivory and coral, 15.5 cm long, late 19th century.Shibayama style cabinet in silver frame with lacquer panels inlaid with mother of pearl, painted ivory and tortoiseshell, height 16.3 cm, by Masanaga and Kunimitsu, late 19th century.Pair of Shibayama style lacquer vases, inlaid with aogai raden, tortoiseshell, coral and ivory, height 27 cm, by Master Masashita, late 19th century.Ivory casket decorated in the shibayama style, 19th century.Inro is a box for small things, which was hung from the obi belt in a traditional Japanese costume. This inro has two compartments fastened with a cord.Tabletop decor inlaid with mother of pearl (aogai raden) and gold (maki e), diameter 33 cm.Lacquer table (Ryukyu Island), height 21.5 cm, sharp, Edo period, 18th century.The cabinet inside and out is richly decorated with gold, silver and mother of pearl, depicting ornaments, flowers and scenes with children playing in the garden.Rare Japanese cabinet Nanban on an ebony stand, height 58.5 cm, Momoyama period (1573 1615), Raden inlay, early 17th century.
