17 September. On 10 September, the Conservation of Urushi (Japanese Lacquer) Seminar began in Tokyo at the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (NRICPT).

The Seminar brought together the Japanese course team and twelve participants from previous versions of the course on Conservation of Urushi which has been held regularly since 1999.

Twelve papers were presented on professional activities, building on the knowledge and skills gained in Japan , followed by discussion on the relevance of the courses.

The papers presented were:

• Sabi and Urushi: Experiences in a Lacquer Workshop and Restoration Studio
  Suzanna SHAW, National Gallery of Victoria, Australia
• Need of Urushi Plantation, Scientific Method of Liquid Collection and Storage and Conservation and Restoration of Lacquered-Wares in Bhutan
  Chenkyo Tshering DORJI,
  Freelance  (Emeritus Professor), Bhutan
• Approach to Urushi Conservation
  Balazs LENCZ, Hungarian National Museum, Hungary
• Some considerations on the conservation problems of Urushi Works of Art in Museums. A project to enhance the knowledge acquired during the Urushi Course 2005
  Francesco CIVITA, Stibbert Museum, Italy
• Comparison of Urushi Lacquer with Iranian Lacquer ware Introduction
  Mitra ETEZADI, Cultural Institute of Bonyad Museums, Iran
• Presence of Urushi in Spanish Collections
  Margarita KIRCHNER, Arquinfad, Spain
• Behaving badly? The Conservation of Lacquer Instruments in a small Spanish Museum
  Ya Hui LIU ZHOU, National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), Spain/Taiwan
• An Approach for Restoration of Lacquer Work
  Somtawin Pom NILVILAI, Bureau of the Royal Household, Thailand
• Furniture Conservation
  Jurgen HUBER, The Wallace Collection, United Kingdom/Germany
• The Mazarin Chest Project: Ethics, Export Lacquer and Art History
  Julia HUTT, Victoria & Albert Museum, United Kingdom
• A Scientific Investigation into the Conservation of Urushi
  Brenda KENEGHAN, Victoria & Albert Museum, United Kingdom
• Real Benefit:  Opportunities and Results from the International Course on Conservation of Japanese Lacquer
  Melissa CARR, Private, Masterwork Conservation, USA

The two-day session in Tokyo was followed by a three-day study tour to Hirosaki, Hachinohe and Hiraizumi, in northeastern Japan. The tour include visits to urushi studios and collections, and discussions with Japanese specialists on different aspects of making and caring for lacquer aspects.

The publication of the proceedings is in preparation.

Member States represented: Australia, Hungary, Italy, Iran, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

updated on: 24 November, 2007