Black and red lacquer bowls, Wajima lacquer ware

Urushi is used for different purposes depending on its color and quality. Combining urushi of different qualities with various techniques produces lacquer ware with a marvelous diversity of expression. Furthermore, by mixing different pigments in the lacquer, an array of colors can be created. The color of black lacquer is held to be the richest and most beautiful shade of black, as exemplified in the word shikkoku (literally, “lacquer black”), meaning jet black or raven black. Many shades of red can also be produced depending on the pigment used. There are white and green lacquers as well.