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How did the Kangxi emperor revive lacquerwork in Qing China?

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Qianlong imperial throne — lacquerwork Imperial Chinese throne of the Qianlong emperor (reigned 1735–96), red lacquer carved in dragons and floral scrolls, Qing dynasty; in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

The Kangxi emperor (reigned 1661–1722) revitalized the lacquerwork industry in Qing China in 1680 by establishing a series of 27 workshops dedicated to artistic handicrafts within the precincts of the palace at Beijing.1

This initiative helped restore the prominence of the craft following a decline that had occurred toward the end of the Ming dynasty. Under Kangxi’s patronage, lacquer techniques advanced, resulting in pieces that were generally free from the small cracks often found in earlier Ming products. The flourishing state of the industry during this period was noted by the Jesuit Louis le Comte, who arrived in China in 1687. Furthermore, the Kangxi era marked the beginning of significant exports of Chinese lacquerware to Europe, which subsequently influenced the development of chinoiserie in the West.1