Decoration techniques: Takamaki-e and kirikane

In the case of the Mazarin Chest, many variations of the basic maki-e technique have been used. Takamaki-e, or 'raised sprinkled picture', decoration has been used to create this tree-trunk. The design is built up and modelled in low relief using a mixture of urushi and fine clay. Small pieces of gold and silver foil known as kirikane (literally 'cut metal') can also be seen. The silver kirikane has suffered from the effects of raised relative humidity and pollutants, and the corrosion products that have formed as a result have 'crept' out over adjacent gold surfaces.