Chinese Lacquerware: Bowls, Screens and Layers of Patience

One Hundred Thin Coats

Chinese lacquerware is slow work made fast-looking. The material is the sap of the lacquer tree, applied in extremely thin layers — a good piece may carry dozens — with curing and polishing between each. The result is a surface that is hard, water-resistant, warm to the touch, and capable of deep colour, especially the reds and blacks that define the classic pieces. Carving, inlaying and painting then happen on top of that base, and the best work can take months.

The Techniques: Carved, Inlaid, Painted

The main branches of the craft are distinguishable at a glance. Carved lacquer builds up many layers and then cuts through them — the deep red "carved lacquer" pieces with landscape or floral relief are the best known. Inlaid lacquer sets shells, metal, bone or stone into the surface. Painted lacquer decorates the cured surface with gold or colour, which is the tradition that travelled into Japanese and Korean craft as well. Each requires a different specialist, and many workshops specialise in one.

Where to See It in China

The craft's historic centres are the eastern cities and Shanxi, and several of them keep it commercial today: Yangzhou and the Jiangsu towns for inlaid and painted work, Pingyao and the Shanxi cities for carved lacquer and furniture, Beijing and the museum collections for imperial pieces. Workshops accept visitors by arrangement, and museums display the technical detail — look for the cross-section displays, which make the layer count visible.

Buying and Caring for Lacquerware

Buy from a workshop or a museum shop, and ask how many layers a piece has and whether the decoration is carved, inlaid or painted — price follows both. Lacquer is durable but dislikes prolonged soaking, direct sun and sharp impact; small bowls, boxes and trays travel well, while large screens should be shipped. Old pieces with genuine age are collectible and priced accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions