Beijing Carved Lacquer

Beijing Carved Lacquer

　　The main process of carved lacquer is carving, and its primary material is lacquer, hence the name "carved lacquer." Beijing carved lacquer comes in two types: metal-bodied and non-metal-bodied. The former has an enamel interior, while the latter has a lacquer interior. Lacquer is applied layer by layer—one coat is applied, dried, then another is added, with two layers typically applied per day. The number of coatings ranges from as few as dozens to as many as three to five hundred. Afterward, artisans use knives as brushes to carve relief patterns such as landscapes, flowers, and figures according to design drafts. The lacquer used is primarily vermilion red, with yellow, green, black, and others serving as base colors. It is categorized into various craft types such as “tihong” (stacked cinnabar), “tihuang” (carved yellow), “tilihong” (carved green), “ticao” (carved polychrome), and “tixi” (carved rhinoceros). The craft process of carved lacquer is extremely complex, involving more than ten procedures such as body-making, blue firing, base preparation, lacquer application, carving, and polishing. Each procedure demands a high level of craftsmanship.

　　The craft process of Beijing carved lacquer is very intricate, involving over ten steps such as design, body-making, lacquer application, pattern tracing, carving, and polishing. Each step requires a high degree of skill. Among these, carving is the most crucial process. In the past, the main carving technique was flat engraving, but now relief carving, openwork carving, and three-dimensional round carving are widely used. The color matching of carved lacquer is also very particular. In the past, only black, red, yellow, and green were used, but now the palette has expanded to include more than twenty colors such as white, apricot yellow, tea red, and pink. Each piece has also evolved from a single color in the past to multiple color layers today. These products are moisture-proof, heat-resistant, acid- and alkali-resistant, non-deformable, and non-degradable—qualities that have made them highly popular.