Nō robe with a design of hermitages and flowers in karaori

Anonymous

Late Edo period, 1856

Karaori, literally "Chinese weave," is a richly brocaded garment mostly for female roles in nō play.
Gold ground is woven using gold thread. Hermitages, pine trees and flowers are represented by floating colored wefts, creating a surface effect similar to that of embroidery. The gold or silver thread used for karaori, as in the present work, is made by pasting gold or silver leaf on washi (traditional Japanese handmade paper), then shredding it into threads.

Flower vase in kinran-de (overglaze enamels and gold decoration), Satsuma ware

Anonymous

Meiji period, 19^th century

Kinran-de (literally, brocade style) is a style of decorative ware in which gold leaf or gold paint, made by dissolving gold leaf powder in animal glue, is applied on overglaze enamels.
Ceramics made in Kagoshima Prefecture (former Satsuma Province) are collectively called "Satsuma ware," which can be roughly categorized into informal folk craft kuro-Satsuma (literally, black Satsuma) and ornately decorated shiro-Satsuma (literally, white Satsuma).

Suzuri-bako (writing box) with auspicious composition of pine and cranes in maki-e

IGARASHI Zuiho (1852-1903)

Meiji era, 19^th century

On the surface of the lid, the pine tree bark is depicted in taka-maki-e, a technique in which gold or silver powder is sprinkled over a lacquer design raised with carbon powder. The sky is filled with nashiji (pear skin finish) which is rendered by scattering gold powder. On the inside of the body, autumn flowers are depicted with raden, a technique in which mother-of-pearl is cut into the shape of a design and affixed in place with lacquer.
IGARASHI, born in Kanazawa, was the last lacquer artisan of the Igarashi School that continued since Muromachi period (1333-1573).

Folding screen in color on paper with gold leaf, "Sights in and around Kyoto (Rakuchu rakugai)"

Attributed to IWASA Katsushige (1604-1673)

Edo period, 17^th century

The theme of "in and around Kyoto" together with the depiction of people's lives began to be painted in the late Muromachi period (16th century), when the interest in genre painting had become strong. The theme became popular throughout the Edo period (17th -19th centuries).
In the present work, which is mounted in a screen format, the theme is depicted on paper to which gold leaf has been pasted. Sunago (gold and silver leaf powder) is sprinkled on the lower parts of the screen.

Buddhist figure Eleven-headed Avalokitesvara (Kannon) in wood

Anonymous

Muromachi period? (1333-1573)

The introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6^th century brought about popular worship in Avalokitesvara (Kannon), particularly the Eleven-headed Avalokitesvara as it is said to save worshippers from difficulties.
Gold paint, which is made by dissolving gold leaf powder in animal glue, is applied to the body of the statue. The robe and the pedestal are decorated in kirikane, a technique in which several sheets of gold or silver leaf baked and attached to each other are cut into various small shapes and then applied on the surface of the statue.