maki-e; gold or silver lacquer; sprinkled-picture lacquerware
Traditional Japanese decorative technique where metal powder is sprinkled onto wet lacquer to create designs. Often used for high-end craft objects like boxes, trays, and writing implements.
This maki-e small box is from the Edo period.
蒔絵の技法は漆器に金粉や銀粉を蒔いて模様を描きます。
The maki-e technique involves sprinkling gold or silver powder onto lacquerware to create patterns.
hiramaki-e; flat-sprinkled picture lacquer
gold lacquer; gold makie
takamaki-e; embossed gilt lacquerwork
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and common contexts.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 蒔く (maku, 'to sprinkle') + 絵 (e, 'picture'). The kanji 蒔 is specifically associated with sowing or sprinkling.