Raden Maki-e "Year of the Tiger" Urushi Topre 6u Spacebar

shimmering raden with a meticulous silver and gold tiger inlay, an emblem of fierce beauty and traditional craftsmanship for elite keyboards.

This is the first in an annual 1 of 1 Year of the X Urushi Spacebar Collection. Each spacebar in this collection is limited to 1 per year.

Unreal Keyboards certifies that this Raden Maki-e Year of the Tiger Urushi Topre spacebar has been made solely by the distinguished urushi-shi artisan, Yan Wu, in Fuzhou, Fujian, China.

Nestled in one of China’s lacquer art cultural centers, the Wu family have been working with this ancient art style for over 100 years. This experience allows Yan to carefully select the highest quality raw materials and employ various traditional methods to create stunning works of art, something she has been mastering over the last 30 years.

The creation of Urushi involves a meticulous and time-consuming process that requires great skill and precision. This spacebar is treated with dozens of processes of Roiro-Urushi lacquer finish, with each layer polished by hand. A final decorating technique called maki-e completes the final product, revealing a stunning Tiger in silver powder adorned with inlaid raden against a black urushi background. A full year of production time was required to complete the process.

Urushi lacquer has long been associated with prestige and luxury. Throughout history, it has been favored by nobility, emperors, and wealthy patrons who sought to acquire objects of unparalleled beauty. The rarity and complexity of the art form, combined with the exceptional craftsmanship required, contribute to its exclusivity and high value.

As beautiful as your spacebar is to admire, it is also meant to be enjoyed on a treasured keyboard. The unique properties of Urushi lacquer make for an incredibly resilient, lustrous and smooth finish that is highly resistant to scratches and wear.