Kirikane (gold leaf cut technique), Kyoto lacquer ware

Zohiko lacquerware is richly decorated with maki-e, which is lacquer decoration work with gold or silver powder representative of Kyoto-style lacquerware. In taka (raised) maki-e technique, a pattern is created in relief with such substances as lacquer, carbon dust, and sabi-shitaji, which is a mixture of lacquer and tonoko clay dust, followed by sprinkling of the maki-e powder to yield a three-dimensional effect. In hira (flat) maki-e technique, meanwhile, the pattern is drawn with lacquer, upon which maki-e powder is sprinkled and then mixed with the lacquer to harden. This technique is finished with polishing. The kirikane technique involves cutting small, thin squares of metals such as silver and gold and pressing them onto the piece. The many other kinds of maki-e techniques include nashiji (mottled), kanagai (nacre), tsukegaki (maki-e lines on top of a maki-e base), and kimetsuke, which features metallic decorations on the convex parts of the taka maki-e style.