KATO NAOTO ”Kawatsura Maki-e Workshop GOHEI“
ーーProfile
Born in Kawatsura, Yuzawa City, Akita
The 8th generation of “Emaki Workshop Gohei”.
After apprenticing under his grandfather Kato Gohei and his father Kato Kazue in 2003, he challenged in combining various new and old techniques, as a Maki-e artist in Kawatsura.
He challenged the combination of Urushi and glass, and never stopped finding the possibilities of lacquer.
From 2010 he also joined the Young Kawatsura group “Urushi group of five(four)”
ーーWhat is Kawatsura Urushi?
Kawatsura Lacquerware is a lacquerware made in the southern region of Akita, Yuzawa City, Kawatsura. It is characterized by its robust and sturdy construction, and is said to have originated in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), about 800 years ago, when lacquer was applied to sword sheaths, bows, armor, and other items of vassals.
During the end of the Edo period, they started producing daily use products such as bowls, tables, stacked boxes, etc. At the same time urushi decoration techniques grew and became popular such as chinkin (add gold powder by carving the base and painting urushi) and maki-e (add gold powder by painting urushi on base).
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ーーMaki-e Glass (Akita series)
Kawatsura Maki-e Glass with designs related to Akita.
This series has five variations with Akita’s events and specialties painted; Akita Dog, Namahage, Fireworks, Kanto Festival, and Kamakura/Igloo. Each piece is carefully and playfully depicted with lacquer brush using an abundance of gold powder.
The pattern spreads when drinks are added, making it ideal for cold tea and/or sake.The bottom of the glass has a non-slip coating for ease of use.
