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Lot Essay
The name for this type of lacquer, tixi, literally means ‘carved rhinoceros,’ and derives from the Chinese term xipi, which is used to describe marbled lacquer as it resembles the hide of a rhinoceros. However, although both techniques involve the application of layers of lacquer in different colors, and their exposure for decorative purposes, the methods vary considerably.
In the xipi technique, the layers of differently colored lacquer are applied to a deliberately uneven surface and the different colors are revealed by rubbing down the surface. In the tixi technique, the different colors are revealed by carving designs in wide U-shaped or V-shaped lines.
This type of tixi lacquer is often referred to by the Japanese term guri lacquer in the West. The word guri refers to pommel scroll, which these designs are thought to resemble. The equivalent Chinese term is jianhuan (sword [pommel] scroll), but these lacquers are most often referred to in Chinese by the term tixi. The most popular design, as seen on the present brush, is usually described as ruyi yun wen (ruyi cloud pattern).
In the xipi technique, the layers of differently colored lacquer are applied to a deliberately uneven surface and the different colors are revealed by rubbing down the surface. In the tixi technique, the different colors are revealed by carving designs in wide U-shaped or V-shaped lines.
This type of tixi lacquer is often referred to by the Japanese term guri lacquer in the West. The word guri refers to pommel scroll, which these designs are thought to resemble. The equivalent Chinese term is jianhuan (sword [pommel] scroll), but these lacquers are most often referred to in Chinese by the term tixi. The most popular design, as seen on the present brush, is usually described as ruyi yun wen (ruyi cloud pattern).