Zhongmu Lacquerware

Zhongmu Lacquerware

　　Everyday utensils, handicrafts, artworks, and other items coated with lacquer on their surfaces are generally referred to as “lacquerware.” Raw lacquer is a natural sap harvested from lacquer trees, primarily composed of urushiol, laccase, gum, and water. When used as a coating, it possesses special properties such as moisture resistance, high-temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance, and can also be formulated into various colored lacquers that shine brilliantly. In China, the properties of lacquer were recognized as early as the Neolithic Age and used to make objects. From the Shang and Zhou dynasties through the Ming and Qing dynasties, Chinese lacquerware craftsmanship continued to develop, reaching a remarkably high level. Chinese techniques such as qiangjin (fire-gilded decoration) and miaojin (painted gold) have had a profound influence in regions such as Japan. Lacquerware is an important ancient Chinese invention in the fields of chemical craftsmanship and arts and crafts.