Gofun Shirayuki, genuine oyster shell white

The foundational white of traditional Japanese arts and crafts. Sourced from the last remaining manufacturer in Kyoto, genuine Gofun Shirayuki is the result of a slow, decades-long collaboration with nature.

Harvested oyster shells are piled by the sea, where the warm, humid climate acts as a natural crucible. Over a span of five to ten years, the organic matter entirely decomposes, leaving behind only the purest, pearl-white mineral flakes. These flakes are painstakingly ground and graded by size to create a white of unparalleled subtlety. When mixed with rabbit skin glue, applied to a sized surface, and burnished with an agate stone, Gofun yields a brilliant, polished ground that defines the aesthetic of historical Japanese painting.