Kamakura-bori

is a form of lacquerware from Kamakura, Japan. It is made by carving patterns in wood, then lacquering it with layers of color. It is then polished.

In the Kamakura period (1185 –1333), carved lacquer from the Song dynasty of China was imported to Japan by Chin Na-kei (or Chin Wa-kei). However, many Japanese lacquer craftsmen did not adopt the Chinese method of depositing lacquer and then carving it; instead, they created Kamakura-bori, a method of carving wood and then coating lacquer.Carved lacquer and Lacquered sculpture Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History Kamakura-bori is a technique invented by or , who were busshi (sculptors of Buddhist statues), in order to mass-produce Buddhist altar fittings resembling carved lacquer in a short period of time.

Kamakura-bori was widely used as a box, stand or plate for daily necessities, Buddhist altar fittings and tea utensils.

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