Lotus leaf

One of Japan’s leading contemporary lacquer artists, Unryūan works in the tradition of the Koami family who served the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period (1615–1868). His work combines traditional lacquer techniques with a contemporary aesthetic.

Lotus leaf was inspired by the monumental bronze lotus leaves that accompany the 8th-century sculpture of the Great Buddha in Nara, Japan. The crystal drops on Unryūan’s leaf evoke dew, while the tiny gold flakes scattered around its base suggest the reflection of sunlight. The artist has masterfully employed the dry lacquer technique ('kanshitsu') to create the leafbefore applying white, yellow and green lacquer in the 'kawarinuri' technique on the dry lacquer body.