Japanese Terms You May Meet in Lot Descriptions

A short list of words that often appear in descriptions of Japanese art. For care terms, see the Glossary (08).

Romaji	Kanji	Meaning
hakogaki	箱書	Writing on a work's box: title, name, signature, seal
tomobako	共箱	Original box inscribed by the maker
kiwame	極め	A written attribution by a later expert or successor
kakitsuke	書付	An inscription by a tea master or authority
rakkan	落款	Signature and seal on a painting or calligraphy
mei	銘	A maker's signature on a craft object; also a poetic name
zaimei / mumei	在銘 / 無銘	Signed / unsigned
in	印	Seal
kaō	花押	Handwritten monogram
utsushi	写	Made after an earlier model
kakejiku	掛軸	Hanging scroll
tetsubin	鉄瓶	Cast-iron kettle
urushi / maki-e	漆 / 蒔絵	Lacquer / sprinkled-metal lacquer decoration
kintsugi	金継ぎ	Lacquer repair finished with gold
kannyū	貫入	Fine crackle in a glaze
karazuri	空摺	Blind embossing on a print

Definitions are descriptive. A named term in a description is not a guarantee of authorship.