Why did lacquer vessels cost much more than bronze vessels during the Warring States period?

During the Warring States period, lacquer vessels were approximately 10 times more expensive than their bronze equivalents. This high cost was primarily driven by the intensive labor required for their production.1

Creating these vessels involved a complex, multi-stage process that demanded the expertise of several specialized craftsmen. The production began with the preparation of a core—often made of wood, bamboo, or hemp cloth—which was then primed and covered with many thin, successive layers of lacquer. Because lacquer is a sticky, naturally occurring polymer, it had to be applied slowly with a brush, requiring prolonged, fluid motions to achieve the desired finish. After the base was built up, the surface was polished and decorated by painters, and in some cases, further refined through inlaying, engraving, or gilding. The sheer volume of work-hours required to complete these intricate, high-quality items made them luxury goods that rivaled bronzes as the most esteemed medium for aristocratic ancestral ceremonies.1