kirara　雲母粉

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Also kira, ummo or unbo 雲母. Mica. Mica is a silicate mineral with a layered structure, whose crystals are often found in granite deposits. It is ground down to give a white powder which is mixed with sizing *dousa 礬水 for an undercoat used on paper, silk and wood before painting. A mica coating *kirabiki 雲母引 gives a smooth painting surface with a shiny finish. Mica powder is also used as a pigment *ganryou 顔料 in woodblock prints *ukiyo-e 浮世絵, and for paper decoration. In a technique known as kirazuri 雲母摺 the printing block is coated with paste nori 糊 or animal glue *nikawa 膠 and printed onto the paper. Mica is then sprinkled over the glue before it dries. Sometimes a red or grey layer is printed before applying the mica, producing a red or grey sheen.

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