sukashibori　透彫
KEY WORD :　art history / crafts
　
Openwork. A method of decoration in which a design is cut out of a plain surface. While sukashibori refers to openwork decoration made with a wide variety of materials including ceramics, stone, glass, and leather, in Japan the term is most commonly associated with metalwork. The metal sheet, most commonly iron or copper, is prepared by casting or hammering. A piercing burin sukashitagane 透し鏨 or scroll saw itonoko 糸鋸 is then used to engrave the design. There are two types of sukashibori: jisukashi 地透し where the ground is pierced completely, and mon'yousukashi 文様透し where the design is cut away in relief but leaving some of the original material as back ground. Sukashibori, particularly mon'yousukashi, is used for the decoration of incense burners, iron lanterns, and sword guards. Jisukashi is important in making the halos for Buddhist statues. In the Asuka and early Nara periods, the halo of the Buddha was usually made of copper, and decorated with flame and arabesque patterns in sukashibori. In the Heian period, sukashibori began to be executed in wood as well as metal to make, for example, an arabesque halo karakusa kouhai 唐草光背, and a flying apsaras halo *hiten kouhai 飛天光背, showing dancing heavenly figures around the central Buddha image.
Sukashibori is also used in the decoration of *ranma 欄間 and *kaerumata 蟇股 in wooden architecture of the Momoyama and Edo periods.
　

Nikkou Toushouguu Shinkyuu 日光東照宮神厩 (Tochigi)

　
REFERENCES:
　
EXTERNAL LINKS: 
　　
NOTES: 
　

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission.
掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。