-Kinpakuoshi- Gold leaf guilding, a time-honored traditional craft of Kyoto that has endured for a thousand years since the Kamakura period, is a testament to the city's rich heritage. Artisans deftly manipulate Kanazawa-produced Honkin gold leaf, renowned as the thinnest in the world at one ten-thousandth of a millimeter, freely adorning surfaces both flat and sculptural, seamlessly applying it to curved and textured areas. With their masterful techniques, they have embellished esteemed temples and shrines throughout Japan, gracing the treasures enshrined within with the radiance of gold.
The humid climate of Kyoto, nestled in a basin, plays a favorable role in the compatibility between lacquer and gold, making the technique of applying gold with lacquer an exclusive skill mastered solely by Kyoto's artisans within Japan. Gold applied with lacquer possesses a distinct deep golden hue, which grows in richness and gravitas as it ages gracefully. The art of applying gold without disruption, while acutely sensing the temperature and humidity of each day, is honed through years of experience. However, artisans possessing the expertise to meticulously restore centuries-old gold leaf, using the exact techniques of the past, are sadly dwindling in numbers.
Kinpakuoshi Yamamura, an atelier that has carried on this esteemed craftsmanship through multiple generations in Kyoto, stands as a testament to the unwavering mastery of the art of gold leaf guilding. Their exceptional skills have contributed to the restoration of renowned temples and shrines such as Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Chūson-ji. Today, they continue to extend the reach of their expertise into diverse fields, including art object creation, interior design, and decorative embellishments. This enduring art form, forged over a millennium, breathes new life into our modern existence, bringing forth a fresh breath within our contemporary lifestyles.
