Wooden base, Kyoto lacquer ware

Perhaps the most prominent characteristic of Kyoto lacquerware is that it is crafted from ultra-thin wood. Craftsmen sand down the wood down to the greatest possible extent, rendering it paper-thin. This is the secret behind the fact that the finished product itself remains thin despite multiple applications each of the base coat, middle coat, and top coat. Regardless of its remarkably slim base, the lacquerware is extremely durable.