Photo credit Uemura Pearl Culture

Maki-e is a centuries-old technique of painting objects with various motifs using lacquer and powdered 24K Gold and pure Silver metals, along with other alloys like aluminum, brass and pewter.

Per Wikipedia, the term maki-e is a compound word of maki meaning "sprinkling" and e meaning "picture" or "design". The final word works out to something like "sprinkled pictures". 

Invented in Japan around 1,200 years ago, the maki-e technique rapidly gained fame in the Western world around 400 years ago when objects created with the gold and silver dust started to be imported into Europe. 

Traditionally reserved for items like lacquer boxes, vases and porcelain plates, the maki-e technique has been adapted in modern times for that most humble yet beautiful of gemstones: the Pearl.  

Layer upon layer, the 24K Gold dust and/or Silver and Platinum is painted over the lacquer, allowed to dry and then sanded down to the metal-bonded layer. It is then burnished or polished with a piece of charcoal, and then another layer of lacquer and metal dust is applied.

 

For maki-e pearls, other elements are added such as carved pieces of abalone or mother-of-pearl, raising the height of the design and creating an eye-catching mosaic effect.

This is set into place with a final layer of lacquer, which is then sanded down, burnished and then lacquered again to hold everything in place. Each pearl is a 100% one-of-a-kind creation, worthy of a designation as Treasure in its own right.

Photo courtesy Eliko Pearl

These stunning pearls really haven't been seen in the pearl world before; they are truly unique, one of a kind works of art that I really just can't get enough of!

 

The exclusive dealer for maki-e Tahitian pearls in the United States is Eliko Pearls, based in New York, says that the pearls are exceedingly rare, with less than 100 pearls produced each month ... contrast that with a typical Freshwater pearl harvest which averages in the hundreds of TONS each year, these pearls are truly alone in the world as pieces of Art. 

 

"There are currently 4 artisans in the world practicing the Maki-e technique on pearls. As one can imagine, this is very labor and time intensive and a very specific skill set is required. On average, about 100 pearls are produced a month, so they are very, very limited in quantity."  

Photo courtesy GIA

 

Maki-e pearls today apparently aren't created in Japan - they're created in the Philippine Islands! Per a fantastic interview with Raphael Basalely, Vice President of Eliko Pearl Co., and Reema, author of the Culture of Pearls Blog:

 

"These pearls are actually crafted in the Philippines. All of the pearls are of the Tahitian variety from French Polynesian pearl farms but the labor of decorating them with 24k paint and abalone shell inlay is done in the Philippines. The technique is Japanese as you mentioned and many of the styles are Japanese inspired but the labor itself is not done in Japan." 

That more than interesting tidbit aside, let's enjoy some Easter Eggs for Grown Ups! 

While I was not able to find any videos whatsoever about creating maki-e pearls, for those of you wanting to know more about this fascinating and intricate art form is made can learn more by watching the video review below.  

RABBIT TRAILS

 

 

 

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