LEGAL FRAMEWORK • ETHICS • PROTECTION
THE GLOSSARY OF ART
PRECISE TERMINOLOGY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ART OF URUSHI LACQUER AND KINTSUGI
LACQUERS
Kintsugi
Literally "gold repair", it is a Japanese art that consists of repairing broken ceramics using urushi lacquer, sprinkled or mixed with powder of gold, silver or platinum.
This method is related to the maki-e technique. The philosophy of kintsugi is based on the idea that breakage and repair are integral parts of an object's history, and that they should be highlighted.
PHILOSOPHY
Kintsugi
Literally "gold repair", it is a Japanese art that consists of repairing broken ceramics using urushi lacquer, sprinkled or mixed with powder of gold, silver or platinum.
This method is related to the maki-e technique. The philosophy of kintsugi is based on the idea that breakage and repair are integral parts of an object's history, and that they should be highlighted.
Wabi Sabi侘寂
A central concept in Japanese aesthetics, wabi (侘) evokes humility and simplicity; sabi (寂) expresses the effects of time and alteration. The art of kintsugi fully embraces this philosophy by valuing imperfections as part of the object's history.
E-urushi
Ki-urushi (or nama urushi) is raw lacquer, obtained after filtering and slightly reducing the sap of the urushi tree with water, making it directly usable. Its nature varies depending on the origin of the tree and the harvest season, giving rise to several traditional types such as hatsugama, sakari urushi, oso urushi, and urame.
Kijiro urushi
Also called suki-urushi, this translucent lacquer is obtained by removing the water from the ki-urushi emulsion using the kurome and nayashi processes. Upon drying, it takes on a translucent medium brown hue with a semi-matte surface.
Kuro urushi黒漆
Black lacquer obtained in two ways: translucent black urushi (iron hydroxide added to suki-urushi) or opaque black urushi (lamp or pine soot added to suki-urushi).
Roiro-urushi
Very high quality black lacquer, obtained without the addition of oil.
Shuai urushi
Suki-urushi to which a small amount of vegetable oil is added, allowing a glossy finish to be obtained without resorting to traditional polishing (roiro-age).
Suki urushi
Transparent lacquer obtained by purifying ki-urushi. It forms the basis of many traditional finishes: nashi-ji, shuai, shunkei, jo-tame.
Seshima urushi瀬締め漆
Raw lacquer harvested at the end of the season, with a lower urushiol content than classic ki-urushi. It is mainly used as a working lacquer for base mixtures, putties and intermediate layers (naka-nuri).
Kijōmi urushi木地呂味漆
High-quality raw lacquer, prized for its clarity. It is primarily used for fuki-urushi (wiped lacquer) and high-end finishes.
Nashiji urushi梨地漆
Translucent tinted lacquer, traditionally used to obtain a background effect evoking the grainy texture of pear skin (nashi) — a classic maki-e background, against which the metallic powder patterns stand out.
Tame-nuri
Technique and clear lacquer applied as a final layer, which allow the underlying layers to show through, often a colored base or a pattern, for a depth effect.
Uwazuri上摺
The term refers both to a high-quality urushi lacquer and the final polishing process that bears its name: after sanding and pre-polishing the last layer (dôzuri), this transparent lacquer is rubbed onto the surface and then completely wiped off before drying in muro, an operation repeated several times before the final roiro polish. In kintsugi and maki-e, it is also used to fix and protect precious metal powders.
Tsugi-ise urushi
Lacquer used for polishing and finishing suri-urushi; it also serves as a substitute for isehaya-urushi.
Hakuoshi urushi
Lacquer specifically used to fix gold leaf onto lacquered surfaces.
joki urushi
A low-viscosity raw lacquer that dries thoroughly. It is used as a raw lacquer for fuki-urushi (wiped lacquer) as well as for base coats.
Togidashi-nashiji urushi
Lacquer of excellent transparency used for the yellowish-dominant nashiji-nuri coating; it can also be polished to obtain black roiro finishes.
Akaroiro urushi
A transparent, amber-colored lacquer, particularly suitable for enhancing transparency. It can also be mixed with pigments to produce a colored lacquer.
Keshi-shuai urushi
A transparent, matte amber-colored lacquer that can be mixed with pigments to produce colored lacquers.
Aka-nakanuri urushi
Lacquer used for undercoats, before a final coating of suki-urushi or colored lacquer.
Nuritate-nashiji urushi
Lacquer used for nashiji-nuri; being already glossy by nature, it can be finished without an additional coating layer.
Joshuai urushi
A clear lacquer with a brilliant amber color, which can also be mixed with pigments to produce colored lacquers.
Akahaku-shita urushi
Transparent amber-colored lacquer, applied under the gold leaf.
Jotame urushi
Clear lacquer with a deep, semi-gloss amber color.
Hon-roiro urushi
Lacquer applied to accentuate the shine of the roiro polish; it hardens strongly.
Kuro-naka-nuri urushi
Lacquer used as an undercoat, before the application of a final black coating.
Johon-kuro urushi
Ki-urushi (or nama urushi) is raw lacquer, obtained after filtering and slightly reducing the sap of the urushi tree with water, making it directly usable. Its nature varies depending on the origin of the tree and the harvest season, giving rise to several traditional types such as hatsugama, sakari urushi, oso urushi, and urame.
Hakushita urushi
Black lacquer applied under the gold leaf.
Shin-nuri urushi
Semi-gloss black lacquer.
Nerishu urushi
A family of red lacquers, whose shade varies according to origin: akakuchi-urushi is a pure red, honshu a slightly deeper and darker red, and kikuchi a red tending towards yellow.
Furo 風呂
A small, humid chamber used for curing urushi. Often used for small pieces or as a simplified version of muro.
Fuki-urushi拭き漆
Wiped lacquer technique: urushi is applied and then wiped off to preserve the natural look of the wood and obtain a satin sheen.
Naka-nuri中塗り
Intermediate layer of lacquer applied between the base coat and the finish coat.
Urushi-nuri漆塗り
Generic term referring to urushi lacquering and the techniques associated with it.
Terminology note: Some of these names are trade names used by Japanese lacquer manufacturers and may vary slightly between workshops and suppliers. The definitions above correspond to their most common usage in urushi practice.
Kintsugi art
Registered trademark INPI & EUIPO
© 2026 Kintsugi.art — All rights reserved
Contact
Navigation
• Welcome
• Shop
• Kintsugi Stage
• Delivery and returns
• FAQ
• CVG Kintsugi internship
• CVG boutique
• Payment methods
• Confidentiality Agreement