Bisai jewelry, beautiful with its delicate maki-e (gold lacquer decoration) technique

Wrapped in an elegant glow, it makes its presence known without ever being loud.
When you wear Bisai jewelry, it's as if a core runs straight through you—
you find yourself standing a little taller, paying a little more attention to your own movements.
Once you see the delicate, beautiful patterns worked into each piece, you'll understand why.
Here, we introduce jewelry that lets you fully appreciate maki-e,
one of Japan's finest traditional techniques—truly a luxurious kind of jewelry.

Maki-e is a traditional decorative technique for lacquerware in which pictures or
patterns are first drawn in urushi (Japanese lacquer) on the surface of lacquerware or white mother-of-pearl,
then metal powder such as gold or silver is "sprinkled" (maki) over the design and

polished so that it sets permanently in place.

Originally applied to inro cases and tea ceremony utensils, this technique was favored by
the aristocratic class, and is said to date back to the Nara period.
It developed alongside lacquerware as a technique unique to Japan, and is often used to
decorate designs inspired by nature, such as flowers and birds.

Bisai is a Kaga maki-e brand born in Yamanaka, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Originally, the brand created traditional maki-e pieces such as tea ceremony utensils, but
has since begun developing jewelry items suited to modern life.

The name Bisai combines the words "bisai" (美彩, beautiful color) and "bisai" (微細, minute detail).
It carries the wish that people will wear, every day, jewelry that is beautifully colored
and brought to life through an extremely delicate technique.

White mother-of-pearl forms the base of the motif.
Depending on the angle it's viewed from, its light shifts beautifully, almost like a gradation.
It's a material also used for things like shirt buttons.
This white mother-of-pearl is shaped into a round motif for the jewelry.

A pattern is drawn in urushi, gold powder is sprinkled over it, and it's left to dry.

We say "dry," but urushi won't cure without humidity, so
it might be more accurate to think of it as "curing" rather than drying.
The pieces are placed in a wooden box called a shimebako, where water is sprinkled to
adjust humidity and temperature, and left there to cure for about two nights.

Simply sprinkling on gold powder doesn't produce any shine or luster.
A process called suri-urushi is carried out, in which raw urushi is applied over the entire
surface to form a thin lacquer film, which is then wiped away. Repeating this process gradually brings out the shine.

The craftsmen say the polishing and grinding stage requires the most nerve-wracking care.
The surface is shaved with sandpaper and polished with powdered deer antler, but
if it's over-polished at this stage, the drawn pattern will disappear, so
the craftsman must make split-second judgments right at the line between bringing out shine and protecting the pattern.

In this way, each piece is completed as a treasure that lets you feel
the craftsman's meticulous handwork and pride in traditional craft.

The Pendant Ring is a design that lets you fully enjoy the beauty of white mother-of-pearl.
True to its name, a maki-e ring line traces the outline of the plump,
rounded white mother-of-pearl motif.
White mother-of-pearl is known for its shimmer, which shifts like a gradation depending on
the light, and the gold line drawn like a frame around it brings out
the natural color of the mother-of-pearl.

The Pendant Shizuku Shiro (White Droplet) makes an impression with its lovely,
droplet-shaped pendant top. This single softly glowing drop of maki-e
lends elegance to any woman's neckline.
Hook-type earrings in the same design are also available, so
we recommend wearing them together as a set.

The Pendant Nanahoshi (Seven Spots) features a playful design with a ladybug pattern
drawn in urushi. Ladybug patterns are said to bring happiness, and
simply wearing one is enough to lift your spirits.
It comes in two colors, red and white.
All pendant chains have a maximum length of about 45cm, but
by sliding the metal fitting (ball) on the clasp,
you can also adjust the length to make it shorter.

The Pierce Shizuku Shiro (White Droplet) is a small hook-type earring.
It gives a feminine, refined impression.
Based on white mother-of-pearl, the design was inspired by the shape formed when
"threads" are drawn together—an original Bisai design found nowhere else.

The Pierce Shippo is a stud-type earring featuring a traditional Japanese pattern.
Shippo is a traditional pattern made of overlapping circles of the same size, and
since it represents "harmony and completeness," it's often used in auspicious designs.
Look closely, and you'll notice a finely detailed pattern that lets you
feel the craftsman's handwork.

Bisai jewelry is made using a delicate technique.
To keep it beautiful and enjoy it for a long time, please note the following.

・Do not soak in water
Washing your hands while wearing it is fine, but be sure to remove it before bathing, and
avoid soaking it in water for long periods.

・Be careful not to apply strong force to the maki-e area
Since peeling may occur, please avoid scratching the maki-e pattern or
bumping it against anything.

・Wipe with a soft cloth
It's important to remove fine dust and dirt right away, so
please gently wipe the piece with a soft cloth after each use.

・Do not expose to direct sunlight
When storing the piece, be especially careful to keep it out of direct sunlight.
White mother-of-pearl may discolor if exposed to sunlight for long periods.