Urushi and Asian lacquers in Western collections:
a symposium on scientific and conservation challenges

The upcoming symposium will bring together experts from Europe, Asia, and North America to address the current gaps between scientific research and conservation practice in the study of Asian lacquers. It builds upon the workshop “Past, Present and Future of Asian Lacquer,” held in Pisa, Italy, in 2025, where participants identified the need for stronger communication between scientists and conservators as a key priority for advancing this field.
This event provides an opportunity to review and discuss the state-of-the-art analytical techniques and conservation approaches employed in both Western and Asian institutions. A workshop, structured as an open discussion, will focus on defining future priorities and fostering more effective collaboration aimed at achieving tangible progress in the preservation and care of lacquered objects.
Hosted by the Department of Scientific Research at the British Museum, the symposium will also feature a lecture by urushi conservator Kitamura Shigeru (Kitamura Urushi Conservation Studio, Japan), who will share insights from his experience working with urushi across diverse contexts.

Organized by
Diego Tamburini (British Museum)
Francesca Pincella (Kyoto University)
Ilaria Bonaduce (University of Pisa)
Keito Mineo (Kyoto University)

Supported by
TOSHIBA International Foundation, The Kyoto University Foundation, The British Museum, International Joint usage/ Research Center (iJURC) of the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University.