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What jobs did specialized workers perform in Han dynasty lacquer workshops?
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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.
During the Han dynasty, the production of lacquerware was a highly organized industry, particularly in government-controlled factories. The manufacturing process was divided among several specialized craftsmen, each responsible for a specific stage of production:
- Sugong: This worker was responsible for preparing the base material, which could be constructed from wood, hemp cloth, or bamboo basketwork.
- Xiugong: After the base was primed, this craftsman applied the successive layers of lacquer.
- Shanggong: This worker applied the final top layer and polished the surface to prepare it for decoration.
- Huagong: This specialist was the painter who decorated the prepared surface.
In addition to these primary roles, other workers were tasked with specialized finishing techniques, such as inlaying designs, engraving through the top coating to reveal different colors beneath, adding gilding, or inscribing the finished pieces with details like the date, place of origin, and the names of those involved in the manufacturing process.1