Japanese Lacquer (urushi)

[Pusser]

OK Ive got a reply for you, sort of maybe.
I rang robert brown in melbourne, a respected restorer of very fine, generally euopean antiques.
I dosent know where to get it, but says that people used to melt down old records. (the really old ones that smash if you drop them)
there were made of laccer. so there is a start for some reasearch.
WATCH HEALTH AND SAFTY STUFF.
I have no idea whether this is safe, I suspect its highly inflamabe and toxic.
also in consideration of other collectors, if you find such records make sure they really are too damaged to play.

good luck
astrid

You can dissolve them in metho according to one source. They are apparently a type of hard black shellac

[NCArcher]

Hi Steve,
that looks like an interesting blade.
would it be possible to see some close ups of the blade, focusing on the harmon and mei?
Who is the smith? (if you know) and how did you acquire the sword.
Any idea of the date?

Sorry to be so nosey but i love Japanese blades.

Tony

[MacS]

The 78 RPM records were made from various chemicals, from vinlys, shellac, acetates, phenol etc, and are almost impossible to tell the differences.

Besides, why even consider any these records when you can buy different shellacs or varnishes and color them black or any other colors.

[ian]

The suggestion of using old 78s really tickled me, I might just experiment with that one. Thanks

Steve Phillips

Steve
the reference I have says that urushi is the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree and that it is sourced from China

as far as I know, old 78s were made from Shellac which is made from bettle carcasses — As I understand an earlier post, using disolved 78s would be akin to using contemporary finishes

why don't you PM a few of our Japanese collegues?


ian

[hybridfiat]

The smith was Nagamichi, it is signed, Musashi no kami Nagamichi??????. He was a minor smith from Kanbun near Kyoto around 1660. It has suguha harmon with nie active temper pattern throughout the blade and has deep temper at the point. The forging grain is tight itame-hada and 1 very small forging flaw. It is in old polish and the grain is hard to disern.
I got it from a dealer in California.
I havnt got time to post more pics here but will soon

[NCArcher]

The smith was Nagamichi, it is signed, Musashi no kami Nagamichi??????. ........I havnt got time to post more pics here but will soon

Thanks Steve,
I'll look forward to the pics.


Tony

[hybridfiat]

Hi all Ive found a supplier fot the urushi. Not only that he supplies everything else for the restoration of swords and koshirae (handle, fittings and sheath). For future reference its: http://www.namikawa-ltd.co.jp
Tony Ive contacted a restorer in Holland and he's quoted me a cost of $2200 to polish the blade Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggg!!!! Ill think about it eh

[astrid]

thats great,
let us all know how you get on.
I've always wanted to know how japanese laccer works.
post progressive pics please

Merry Christmas
Astrid

[hybridfiat]

thats great,
let us all know how you get on.
I've always wanted to know how japanese laccer works.
post progressive pics please

Merry Christmas
Astrid

Some trivia for you. During the early part of the occupation of Japan by the americans many soldiers were developing a peculiar rash on thier bums. A typical presentation was a horseshoe shaped red welt on the thigh and buttocks. A rumour went round that it was some form of japanese retaliation.
A Dr looked into this and discovered that the tree urushi was extracted from was related to the american 'poison ivy' and that soldiers who had encountered poison ivy and become sensitised to it developed a rash when they sat on the (few) western style laquered toilet seats. Bizarre!

[tea lady]

I think what you need is a mate in japan to go down to their local craft shop and get some for you. I think it is the sort of thing that you can just buy in tins and tubes and such like over there. Try Tokyu Hands, which is a big craft supplies shop is Shibuya. ( Imean big. Five or six floors as I recall. Spotlight ain't got nothing on them.) Unfortunately their web site is all Japanese.

[hybridfiat]

Cheers for that. Where is Shibuya? Ive freinds in Nagano. I dont know that there will be much difference as the restorer will give me exactly what is used for the saya where i may get the wrong suff if I do it by proxy.

[tea lady]

Shibuya is in Tokyo.
Also found this other site called Hyper Cafe Japanese sword shop.That had all this stuff about ubashi, and differant types. also had the wet stones for sanding down and some examples of finishes. I guess restoring is a bit tricky because you don't know what is under there, but they (Hyper cafe ) seemed to suggest ones for old or new objects. (Lord only knows where they got the name from. Or where they actually are. )
Tokyu Hands possibly has other outlets in Japan.

[NCArcher]

Tony Ive contacted a restorer in Holland and he's quoted me a cost of $2200 to polish the blade Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggg!!!! Ill think about it eh

$2200 sounds pretty good. I think the going rate in Japan by a recognised polisher is around $3000 but i guess it varies with the quality of the blade.
If it was me (and i wish it was) I would save up for the restoration of a nice 17th century blade like that.

Nagano is a long way from Shibuya (about 2-3 hrs on the Shinkansen and you have to change to a private line before you get to Nagano) I was in Nagano earlier in the year. They still have banners and posters up from the '89 (I think) olympics.
Good luck with the restoration. Don't forget to post WIP pics.

Tony