Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How was lacquer used in Chinese decorative arts?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Chinese art
A discussion of Chinese art, from the documentary China: West Meets East at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In Chinese decorative arts, lacquerwork is the practice of applying thin, repeated layers of sap from the lac tree (Rhus vernicifera) over a core material—typically wood, bamboo, or cloth—to create durable, lightweight objects.1
Techniques and Evolution
- Early Methods: By the Shang dynasty, lacquer was used to coat coffins, furniture, and chariots, often serving as an adhesive for inlays of shell or stone.1
- Painting and Design: Because raw lacquer is sticky, it was applied with brushes to create fluid, curvilinear designs. Artisans used pigments like red and black to decorate vessels, ranging from daily utensils to ceremonial items.1
- Advanced Craftsmanship: By the Han dynasty, production was highly specialized, involving distinct craftsmen for preparing the base, applying layers, polishing, and painting.1
- Carving: A major innovation, particularly from the Yuan dynasty onward, was the carving of pictorial or floral designs through thick coatings of lacquer, often in red (tihong).12
- Inlay and Ornamentation: Techniques evolved to include inlaying mother-of-pearl, gold, and silver, as well as incising designs and filling them with precious metal powders.12