Interesting Hobonichi Techo quote of the day

[catbert]

'In the old days, the underarm hair of rats was used to make brushes for maki-e, Japanese lacquer paintings sprinkled with gold. When the rats run, their arms rub their underarm hair, tapering the ends. Since maki-e involves painting sticky lacquer in thin lines, the brush hairs have to be perfectly tapered. The hair of other animals didn’t work, and even machines can’t replicate the effect.'

Masayuki Murata
director, Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum

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Presumably an artist or brush-maker saw a dead rat lying on its back with its legs in the air and thought ‘those are some fine underarm hairs’. But does this mean free-range rats are required and sedentary lab rats won’t produce the necessary tapering?