Teaching by Traditional Craftsmen of "GOMEI kinpaku kougei"Gold leaf stamping experience

Contents of Experience

Experience putting pure gold leaf handmade in Kanazawa on a red or black square plate. You start by touching and knowing gold leaf, draw your favorite design and put gold leaf on it. Experience the craftsmanship here, and enjoy the finished work by decorating it on a dedicated stand instead of putting food and accessories. I'm glad that I can take it home on the day.

1. 

   To a studio with excellent access

   About a 10 minute walk from Kyoto Station on Shinmachi-dori Street, you will arrive at the GOMEI kinpaku kougei craft workshop. Using the signboard on the street as a sign, let's go toward the Gomei written in gold at the end of the alley.

2. 

   There are many works in the workshop.

   There are many works with gold leaf in the workshop. "You can put gold leaf on everything except the ones with no thread (Fibers, stretchable or contractible)." says Itsuaki Hisashi, a traditional craftsman. Rather than glittering, our finishing policy is to produce the heavy light of gold leaf itself and calm beauty.

3. 

   Know about gold leaf

   The experience starts with knowing gold leaf. The G GOMEI kinpaku kougei uses "Entsukebaku" that exists only in Japan and is carefully made by Kanazawa craftsmen. This gold leaf is thinner and flexible than the usual one, and when you touch it with your hands, you will be surprised at its delicacy. It is a bit expensive because it is made by hand, but it is a point that cannot be compromised when trying to experience something unique to Japan and Kyoto where gold leaf craft has been popular for a long time.　

4. 

   Draw a design

   Draw a design with a pencil on the prepared paper. In fact, it's better to draw a straight line instead of a curved line because you'll be designing with tape. The part without tape becomes gold leaf, and you can put letters freely by hand. If you think about the design before the experience, you can proceed more smoothly.to apply a base.

5. 

   Choose the color of the square plate and tape it.

   Choose either red or black square plate. Let's put a tape based on the drawing. The tape will be removed later, so stick the edges a little longer!　

6. 

   To apply a base

   Once you've done this, I'd like you to apply an adhesive to fix the gold leaf to the square plate. This work is an important point to make your work beautiful. If you apply the glue thinly and evenly, you can get a matte finish. Depending on how you apply it, it is said to be a craftsmanship that can make it shiny, and I was surprised that the finish changes depending on the subtle difference in how you apply it! I am satisfied with the texture.

7. 

   Practice, Gold Foil-stamping Production

   Practice handling gold leaf with haku-bashi before starting the work. The gold leaf sandwiched between the leaf paper is so thin and soft that I get nervous holding it! We put 4 pieces of gold leaf on each square plate. If you have a small hole, don't worry, Itsuaki will fix it.

8. 

   Remove the tape and arrange it beautifully.

   When you put gold leaf on it, Itsuaki will smooth the surface with a brush and make it shiny. If you peel off the tape... you can make a square plate with a beautiful contrast of gold and ground color! We fix the place where gold leaf is flying in the ground with cotton swab or correction swab made by Itsuaki.

9. 

   Finished

   Finished Once you've done the correction and lettering... you've created a beautiful piece that sparkles modestly rather than sparkly! It's the best to decorate it in your room, but if you really want to put your food on it, don't put it directly on the floor, but put some paper or a thick plastic wrap on it to avoid damaging the gold leaf.

" GOMEI kinpaku kougei " A word from Hisashi Itsuaki, a traditional craftsman.

1. 

   Have you ever touched gold leaf directly? I started this experience about 20 years ago because I wanted people to feel the delicate touch of gold leaf. The Gomei kinpaku kougei craftsman uses edged gold leaf created by craftsmen in Kanazawa, a famous production area for gold leaf, instead of gold leaf made by ordinary machines, for both his experience and his work. Feel the splendor of gold leaf by touching Japanese traditional techniques.