A coating from a tree
Lacquer in the East Asian tradition comes from the sap of a tree, usually called the lacquer tree. Workers make cuts in the bark and collect the milky sap, which turns darker as it is exposed to air. After filtering and processing, the sap can be brushed onto an object in thin coats. When it cures, it forms a hard, smooth, durable surface that resists moisture and wear.
This is different from the modern, solvent-based finishes also called lacquer. Traditional Chinese lacquer is a natural material, and it has long been used on wood, bamboo, cloth, leather and other cores.
Raw lacquer can irritate the skin, and some people react to it strongly. Lacquer workers traditionally learned to handle it carefully, and anyone trying the craft today should take safety guidance seriously.
How it hardens
Lacquer does not dry simply by evaporating. It cures through a chemical reaction that is helped by warmth and humidity. Because of this, lacquer workers often place coated pieces in a damp, enclosed space rather than a dry one. Each layer needs time to cure before the next one is applied, and the schedule depends on the weather and the formula. This is why lacquerware has often been described as slow work: a finished piece can need many thin coats, with sanding and polishing between them.
Building the layers
A typical piece goes through stages like these, though workshops differ:
- The core. A wooden bowl, a bamboo frame or a cloth-wrapped form is prepared. Sometimes cloth is wrapped over a mold and then removed, leaving a light shell made mostly of lacquer and fabric.
- Base coats. Early layers, often mixed with fine materials, smooth and seal the surface.
- Color coats. Later layers carry the visible color. Black and red are the most familiar, with red traditionally made from mineral pigments.
- Polishing. After repeated curing and fine abrasion, the final layers are polished until the surface has a deep, mirror-like glow.
The number of layers varies greatly. A simple utilitarian bowl might have only a few, while a carved panel can have a great many. The patience this takes is a large part of the value of the finished object.
Ways of decorating
Over time, craftspeople developed several decorative approaches.
- Painting. Designs are painted in lacquer or in pigments mixed with oil. Scenes can include flowers, figures, landscapes and auspicious symbols.
- Carving. In carved lacquer, many layers are built up, sometimes in alternating colors, and then cut through to make designs in relief. The cut edges can show the stacked colors as fine lines. This technique is closely associated with later imperial periods such as the Ming dynasty.
- Inlay. Pieces of shell, especially mother-of-pearl, or thin slivers of metal or other materials are set into or onto the surface. Inlay gives a shimmering effect.
- Incised and filled designs. Lines are cut into the surface and filled with color or gold.
- Gold decoration. Gold or other metal can be used to paint or dust designs on the surface.
Different regions developed their own styles. Some workshops became known for particular techniques, and certain cities became centers of production. As in other crafts, the final object may reflect the work of several people.
A long history
Lacquer use in the region is very old. Archaeological finds suggest that people were coating objects with lacquer in prehistoric times, and well-preserved lacquer vessels, boxes and furniture have come from tombs of later periods. Because lacquer resists decay, it often survives where other materials do not, giving scholars a useful window into the past. The details of early development are still being studied.
In the Han dynasty, lacquerware seems to have been a high-status material, used for dining sets, cups, trays and coffins. Later, fashions shifted toward carved, inlaid and elaborately decorated forms. During the Tang dynasty, lacquer techniques and objects traveled to neighboring countries, and the Japanese influence in this field is especially notable, as lacquer became a major art there with its own distinct styles. The wider network of Silk Road exchange also carried lacquered goods and ideas.
Uses and meanings
Lacquer decorated daily objects and special ones: food boxes, bowls, trays, cosmetic cases, musical instrument bodies, screens, furniture and ritual items. Because it is lightweight, durable and glossy, it suited both the home and the temple. Red lacquer has often been associated with festivity and good luck, and it is used in many celebratory objects. Black and red together are a classic combination.
Motifs on lacquerware frequently draw on a shared vocabulary of auspicious images such as dragons, cranes, peonies and landscapes. A scene might carry a wish for long life or a story from folklore, and the choice of color symbolism could add another layer of meaning.
Caring for lacquer
Old lacquerware is sensitive to direct sunlight, sudden changes in humidity and heat, all of which can cause cracking or fading. Collectors and museums generally keep it in stable conditions. Anyone owning a valuable or antique piece should consult a qualified conservator rather than attempting repairs.
Today
Lacquer continues as a craft, with workshops making both traditional and contemporary pieces. Some artists explore new forms, while others carefully preserve older methods. The appeal remains the same: a surface built up slowly, coat by coat, until color and shine seem to rise from within.