Vietnamese Lacquer Ware is based on the natural vegetable lacquer, a product made from the lacquer tree which is found in several Asian countries. But the resins in the lacquer trees in the province of VinhPhu, Vietnam, produce the best lacquer ware products. They are the most beautiful and durable lacquer ware items in the world today.

The origins of making lacquer ware dates back six to seven thousand years in China. These early examples were very basic and lack the number of process done today. Modern lacquer ware styles and process came about during the first century AD. Somewhere around the 8th century this form of art came to the North of Vietnam. That explains why today, Vietnam is well-known in this field. When speaking today about fine lacquer products, items from Vietnam represent the finest examples of the art today.

Lacquer products were originally produce in basic colors like red, black, green, yellow and brown. With the development of the new techniques, manufacture lacquer products, today cover a whole range of colors to the choice.  These enhancements add to the natural beauty and variety of the Vietnamese lacquer ware. Vietnamese artist now combine painting with the use of gemstones, pearls, seashells, gold, silver, and other articles found in nature. 

Today the process is used to produce many products, fine wall panel art, jewelry boxes, vases, plates and even furniture. The process can be applied to any number of items being made today. But the craftsmen who have passed this are down from generation to generation are very protective of their art work.

Lacquer ware products traditionally pass 12 to 20 stages of production. The raw wood/bamboo is well checked and treated to prevent all fissures. It starts with the selection of fine hardwood or other natural materials to be used as use as the base.  For wall panel paintings, a multi-sheet hardwood is best for paints to keep them straight.

Then it is covered with cotton gauze fixed with lacquer resin mixed with wood powder. Then 2 special layers of resin are added, made using natural lacquer, saw dusts, loam and crushed stone. The mixture is then applied to the base next three layers of resin mixed with clay and powdered wood. Then next three of other layers of resin mixed with clay and powdered chalk. Then two layers of resin mixed with stone powder.

The colors and images will be applied after this stage. The colors are applied one by one, layer on top of layer and mixed with eggshells, mother of pearl, gold and silver.  All of added items have been carved and polished to fit the scene that is being created by the artist. Then 2 final layers of natural and transparent resin are applied.  So making lacquer ware is really a melody of the products of the earth.

Afterwards each application of resin, the product is dried at the ambient temperature, sanded and polished before another application. The complete process of making lacquer ware requires at least 2 months. Because of this processing, the lacquer products can resist great changes in climates. Each piece is somehow unique by the total handmade production. These products are covered not only one dozen layers of resin but also of cultural features of an Asian agricultural country. The entire process will take about 100 days to complete.

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Vietnamese Lacquer Ware

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