This thesis is a compilation of essays on topics concerning Japanese lacquer art of the period 1890-1950, each based on the study of objects and the literature. The essays are grouped into two clusters: the first one focussing on four leading artists of the period and the second one on the manufacturers of traditional utensils. For a better understanding, the clusters are preceded by an overview on the developments in lacquer art between 1850 and 1950. The closing chapter on storage boxes can be considered a by-product of the previous studies.