Techniques
Gold seam (kintsugi crack)
An irregular hand-laid gold seam dividing two lacquer surfaces, with a thin iron-red glow beneath the gold.
.kintsugi-seam {
position: relative;
height: 3px;
background: linear-gradient(90deg,
#9C7009 0%, #C99B22 18%, #D4AF37 34%, #B8860B 52%,
#D9B348 70%, #9C7009 88%, #C9A227 100%);
/* organic, non-straight edge — never a ruler line */
clip-path: polygon(
0 40%, 8% 60%, 16% 30%, 27% 70%, 38% 35%, 50% 65%,
61% 30%, 72% 68%, 83% 38%, 92% 62%, 100% 45%,
100% 55%, 0 60%);
filter: drop-shadow(0 0 4px rgba(212,175,55,0.5));
}
.kintsugi-seam::before { /* bengara iron-red underglow so the gold sings */
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: -2px 0;
background: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, rgba(158,42,27,0.45), transparent 70%);
z-index: -1;
}
Maki-e gold powder (matte, not chrome)
Gold rendered as dusted powder — warm and soft-sheen — never a flat mirror gradient.
.makie-gold {
color: #1E140E;
background:
radial-gradient(circle at 30% 20%, rgba(251,243,220,0.5), transparent 40%),
linear-gradient(135deg, #D4AF37 0%, #C9A227 45%, #B8860B 75%, #9C7009 100%);
background-blend-mode: screen, normal;
text-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba(251,243,220,0.4);
}
Nashiji lacquer ground
The cured urushi surface — chestnut-black with faint scattered gold flecks, like nashiji ("pear-skin") lacquer.
.urushi-ground {
background-color: #1E140E;
background-image:
radial-gradient(circle at 12% 24%, rgba(201,162,39,0.10) 0 1px, transparent 2px),
radial-gradient(circle at 67% 58%, rgba(212,175,55,0.08) 0 1px, transparent 2px),
radial-gradient(circle at 88% 82%, rgba(201,162,39,0.09) 0 1px, transparent 2px),
radial-gradient(ellipse at 70% 0%, rgba(123,63,0,0.25), transparent 60%);
background-size: 180px 180px, 220px 220px, 160px 160px, 100% 100%;
}