Gold-leafing Art

Craftsmanship by Kyoto's master artisans

The gold/silver/platinum leaves are used to put royal colors and unique elegance on Japanese Kimonos. The techniques of craftsmen have been passed down from generation to generation, and have developed along with the history of Kyo-yuzen, originally started from the mid-Heian period, but it is said that Kinsai-technique, which has led to the present day, was established from the Azuchi-Momoyama(1568-) period to the Edo period (1600-1868).

“Kukuri” in which the outlines of the pattern are highlighted with gold lines, and “Furikin-Sunago” in which gold powder made from finely ground foil is dropped onto the fabric with exquisite precision.　

The combination of thin silk fabric and gold leaf artisans is a perfect match of transparency and elegant shining. We can customize the color, pattern, and texture of the gold-leafing art to meet the space and concept of client orders.

Techniques

Hand drawing with brass tip

The exquisite lines of the pattern are drawn with hands of a gold-leafing artisan masters. They use the gold powder mixed glue put into the paper tube made of Japanese paper “Washi” that is reinforced with persimmon tannin.

The delicate brass metal tip is inserted with the Washi paper tube and the brass tip hole size is adjusted to the thickness of the lines. The hand skills by using sticky heavy glue allows lines to be drawn with a three-dimensional effect.

Gold sand technique

The technique of fine powder is to draw the pattern shape with sanding leaves of gold/silver/platinum and other metal foils. At first the glue is spread inside of the pattern and the gold powder is placed with hand brush through the delicate wire mesh of a special tool “Sunago-tuzumi” bomboo container. The fineness of the sanding gold leaves depends on the wire mesh size attached to the powder container.

The master artisans carefully select the container mesh types and rub off the inside powder with brush to paint the patterns on silk fabrics.

Stencil shaping

The gold-leafing technique by using a pattern shape stencil has the longest history of all the gold painting traditional skills that was developed from the oldest times before Yzen-dyeing methods.
Now we have several kinds of stencil techniques. One is to make the paper pattern and put the glue and to put carefully the gold/silver/platinum foils on it.
Another method is silk-screening by using a special gold/silver colored glue.
Recently silk-screen molds are sometimes used instead of stencils.
Special order service of original pattern-screening is available.

Cocoon web technique

This gold-technique is so unique that it expresses natural crack patterns. This technique uses a silk mold made by spreading cocoons thinly in a spider web shape that was harden with persimmon tannin.
The silk cocoon mold is placed on the glued fabric, and then gold leaves are applied on it. The cocoon mold peeled off makes the gold-leaves texture like spider webs.

Kiri-Haku,　Noge-Haku

“Kiri-Haku” is esthetic skills known as cut into small square pieces of gold/silver/platinum and other foils. Those small leaves are adhered to the silk fabrics to make the fabric delicate texture. “Noge” refers specifically to gold foils cut into fine, thread-like stripe pieces with natural bamboo knives and other various shape leaves are arranged and applied.

Special Order System

※Notes on gold-leafing art works

Our proposal design is basically drawn by CG with small samples. However each piece of gold/silver/platinum or other foil is made by hand. Then please kindly be informed that the finished art works that cannot be exactly the same as the proposal images. And please note that the textile of natural silk fiber may slightly stretch or shrink depending on the environment.

①　To confirm your basic specification

First, please inform us the size and dimension, then select our silk fabric suitable for your order.

②　To order other options

Please order dyeing colors and technique options from our proposals.

③-1　To select your gold design

We have　3 services of Gold-leafing art works.

“Furikinsago” technique

We use gold/silver/platinum powder to create a flowing or hazy effect.

Our silk fabric

“Jimon-Okoshi” leafing on silk fabric patterns.

Hand-drawing of gold artisans is applied according to the woven designs of jaqard crepe. And on the embroidered silk fabrics gold is applied between the embroidery stich lines.

Our proposal service of your original designs is available.
Please let us inform your expected design images. Our proposal would be so flexible to meet your originality.

③-2　To create your originality

We have 3 types proposals for your original designs.

・Combination of “Kiri-haku” cut leaves.

　Your original free design is created by a combination of cut-leaf shapes and powder gold sands.

・Creation by ITOKO’s original molds

　We would place our original molds already produced by ITOKO and meet your images.

・Special order of your originality

　Our special system is available to complete your original design just from your first idea. We would create special images by our in-house designs and propose you how to make your art piece with various techniques of craftsmen.

④　To confirm quotation and delivery

Once a design plan is fixed, we provide you a formal estimate.
We would also inform you the approximate days required for your art works.

⑤　To start works

Your signature on our order form should be needed and our creation according to your design image would be started.

⑥　To arrange delivery

For large items such as silk glass and silk shoji screens, we will ship directly from the glass laminated factory to your designated destination.
If you purchase the fabric, we will send it from our office in Kyoto,Japan..

Please refer to each product page or FAQ for receiving the shipment.