How to Take Care Fine Natural Urushi Lacquerware

< Guide >

Our fine Japanese lacquerwares are basically made of genuine natural wood and natural urushi lacquer. The Worst things to the fine lacquerwares are Drying and giving Heat Shocks.

As an urushi lacquer's natural characteristics, it hardens most under humidity of 70-80% (RH) and a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77°F). Therefore, humidity is good for urushi lacquer, by nature, and for the base wood as well.

Just keeping the fine Japanese lacquerware in a dry cupboard all through a year is not what you want to do. Periodic Use is the Best Care for your fine Japanese lacquerware since the Moisture it gives to both the lacquer and the wood maintains and extends the quality and the life of both.

Japanese natural urushi lacquerware will literary shine more after your use, due to the moisture given, and the repeated use and wiping with a soft cloth. This is proof of the natural urushi lacquer product and authenticity. It does not happen with a chemical product.

Please be a little careful not to scratch fine lacquerwares with rough ceramics or metals, urushi lacquer coatings are tough but not hard as them. When putting them away, please try to keep your fine Japanese lacquerware from the direct sunlight. Urushi lacquer is vulnerable to UV rays.

< Care Instructions for Genuine Lacquerware >

Please Do NOT use the lacquerware in a microwave oven.

Please Do NOT use the lacquerware in a dishwasher and dryer.

Please Do NOT leave the lacquerware in a refrigerator for a long time. A couple of hours is OK.

Please Do NOT expose the lacquerware in the direct sunlight for a long time.

An example indicator for the acceptable duration is that your exposed skin can accept.

The reason is that the UV rays will degrade the urushi lacquer coating from its structure.

Please wash by hand using lukewarm water with a soft sponge using liquid mild detergents.
Please avoid using a scrub sponge or hard sponge that might scratch the surface.

Please wipe with a dry soft cloth after rinse.

Please do not stack lacquerwares on/under coarse or rough ceramics, it will damage the surface.

Please avoid using metal silverware directly on them.
In case if there is a crack or a chip, please contact us for a repair. Water or any liquid will permeate through those cracks and in the long run it will damage the coatings and the lacquerware.

If you handle with care, it will shine through your life.

* This instruction is not intended for antique or collectible fine Japanese lacquerware. They should be treated specially since they may have small cracks in the lacquer coatings that permeate through to the core wood.