Kyo-Urushi in the Making - How it's made - Japanese Traditional Art

Through the miraculous hand of the artisan, we can see from the begiinig to finish how just a boring woodpiece can turn into a pricy beauty.

Urushi is to many, a miraculous substance. It is the sap from the lacquer tree, Toxicodendron vernicifluum, a plant closely related to poison ivy, and as such, considerably toxic. As with its better known cousins, the poison ivies, oaks and sumacs, contact with the tree can cause an unbearable affliction of rashes and blisters. Yet somehow, in some ancient time, someone realized that this liquid—the life-blood of this wondrous tree—holds a hidden potential.

Urushi, as it has come to be known by its Japanese name, naturally cures through a process of oxidation and polymerization into a material with remarkable properties for a natural substance. Once hardened, Urushi forms a tough and scratch resistant surface impervious to water, alcohol, minor heat, acids and bases. Because of these properties, as well as its characteristics in application, Urushi has an incredible versatility in use from architectural elements and utilitarian wares to fine arts and crafts renown for their beauty and intricacy.

Most of the time, the base for the lacquer is wood, like hinoki (Japanese cypress), sugi (cryptomeria), keyaki (zelkova), or kiri (paulownia), along with several other Japanese species. Urushi is impervious to most corrosive agent but it is incredibly pervious to dryness and cracking. Rarely Urushi is used with a metal base, let alone a metal bicycle frame. The metal need to be treated differently to ensure the Urushi can adhere to the metal. The result is a fascinating bicycle. The Urushi lacquer bring a uniqueness to elevate the bicycle frame above many others. The art of Urushi lacquer is truly beautiful!

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