Gofun Shirayuki

Oyster shells are collected in large heaps by the sea-side in Kyoto, where they start rotting quickly in the warm and humid climate. During a span of 5 – 10 years the organic compounds decompose, leaving behind finest pearl white flakes. These are ground further and sorted by size to produce the most important white in the history of Japanese art and crafts. Gofun is used like a white gilding ground. It is mixed with a rabbit skin solution and applied on a sized ground, then burnished to a gloss with an agate burnisher. We offer genuine Gofun Shirayuki imported from the last existing Japanese manufacturer.