coating
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coating
Nuri is the process of applying a coat to the surface of artifacts and letting it dry into a film. In general it is called toso (coating). The purposes of toso include protection&sbquo water resistance&sbquo fireproofing&sbquo moisture resistance&sbquo heat insulation&sbquo soundproofing&sbquo fire prevention and electrical insulation. These may be called performance enhancing coatings&sbquo or functional coatings. There is also coating for ornamental effect. Types of coating include oil coating&sbquo water base coating&sbquo resin coating&sbquo cellulose coating&sbquo synthetic resin coating and lacquer. Coating or the act of applying coating is a technology and special skill. The methods and processes of coating range widely from technological methods and engineering-oriented methods to manual techniques. Here I will use nuri rather than toso&sbquo and limit its definition to the application of lacquer. Nuri using lacquer traditionally involves various scientific and technological factors and elements. The finished quality of the nuri is determined by various techniques including conditioning of the base material&sbquo creating the ground&sbquo managing the moisture&sbquo and applying the middle (nakanuri) and finishing coats (uwanuri). These processes depend largely on manual skills and instinct&sbquo and can be considered major factors for today’s advanced coating methods and skills. The traditional skill of uwanuri&sbquo in particular&sbquo includes hananuri (flower coating)&sbquo roironuri (wax color coating) and toumeinuri (transparent coating). Hananuri is a method in which the sheen is brought out "as is" without polishing. In roironuri&sbquo lacquer containing oil is applied and polished repeatedly to bring out the sheen. Toumeinuri is a method that lets the wood grain of the ground show through. Thanks to the combination of these methods and the development of unique methods in each lacquer-ware production region&sbquo lacquer-ware became a traditional Japanese nuri technique that fused decorative quality and functionality. The problem&sbquo however&sbquo is the present reality in which these traditional lacquer-ware skills are on the decline. For design&sbquo at least&sbquo it is vital to revitalize the nuri culture of Japan.