Chinese lacquer, Japanese lacquer, lacquer

A hard-wearing varnish drawn from natural sources, as from the Japanese varnish tree.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Japanese Lacquer

(also Chinese lacquer), a varnish obtained from the latex of the trunks and branches of the Japanese varnish tree (Rhus verniciflua), which grows in Japan and China. When exposed to the air, the latex gradually turns brown and then black. Cinnabar is added to produce red Japanese lacquer, and gold to produce gold Japanese lacquer. The lacquer is noted for great strength and resistance to atmospheric influences. Articles coated with Japanese lacquer retain their brilliance and color for centuries.

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Canepa's study of Japanese lacquer made for the West revealed a number of significant points, one of which relates to the specific ordering of European designs.

East meets West: Rosemary Scott enjoys a thoroughly researched study into the exchange of luxury Asian goods

The fashion for Asian furniture developed in the late 17th century as Britain increased its trade links to the East, and japanning evolved as the English way of imitating Japanese lacquer designs.

Fairs' fare: Apollo previews some of the highlights at Masterpiece London and Art Basel

Whereas Crozat supplemented his paintings with Boulle marquetry furniture, terracotta models and bronzes, Verrue favoured playful arabesques, Japanese lacquer and oriental porcelain.

Behind closed doors: Tom Stammers relishes a tour of the great private collections of early 18th-century Paris

1730) featuring Chinese lacquer and a mid 18th-century French commode mounted with Japanese lacquer panels (Fig.

Substance over style: the Dr Susan Weber Gallery at London's Victoria and Albert Museum is, perhaps surprisingly, the institution's first dedicated furniture gallery. Rather than following a chronological arrangement, its inspired display juxtaposes pieces from different periods and parts of the world, providing insight into a rich array of manufacturing techniques

It combines Japanese lacquer and tulipwood with an exemplary sinuous line (2m [pounds sterling]-3 [pounds sterling]) More royal provenances--English this time-crop up among the decorative arts from Harewood House, Yorkshire, offered by Christie's London on 5 December (an attic sale follows at South Kensington on 9 December).

The art market: a Raphael drawing takes centre stage at the Old Master sales in London, while an outstanding art deco collection comes to the block in New York. In October, both PAD London and the inaugural Frieze Masters saw big-ticket sales

The Japanese lacquer furniture and accessories offered by Grace Tsumugi, Mingei Arts and Simon Pilling East Asian Art & Interiors are there to remind us all that Asian Art in London is also about the functional.

Look east: dealers, auction houses and museums come together in London for the 15th edition of the Asian art showcase

On 7 November, meanwhile, Christie's Paris offers a Louis XVI ormolu-mounted Japanese lacquer secretaire a abattant also by Martin Carlin, dated around 1780 (estimate 300,000 [euro]-500,000 [euro]).

Collectors' focus: the market for French 18th-century furniture has declined in recent years following a shift in taste, but that could be about to change. Elaborately decorated items from this golden age are being recast as elegant showpieces in contemporary interiors

Of the French furniture, perhaps the most illustrious pieces are the Louis XVI ormolu-mounted Japanese lacquer commode with secretaire en suite, attributed to Adam Weisweiler (estimate $5m-$7m), and the Louis XV lacquer commode attributed to the great ebeniste known as B.V.R.B.

The art market: Frieze returns to London, while grand 18th- and 19th-century decorative arts go under the hammer in New York. In London in July, the best Old Masters found strong prices, and masterpiece, in only its second year, saw improved sales

One of the most important categories of goods they brought back to Europe was Japanese lacquer - to an eager market.

From Maastricht to museum: as museum directors, curators end trustees descend on Maastricht for the biggest event in the art market calendar, we select highlights of memorable acquisitions in recent years

From the collection of the Californian nonagenarian Elly Nordskog (who has a penchant for Japanese lacquer and a fine eye for marrying inro with netsuke of complementary subjects), comes no less than 65 inro, 60 netsuke and 30 pipecases, the latter a rather neglected field of collecting for which, until this show, there was no literature.

Eastern promise: dealers, museums and auction houses are pulling out the stops for Asian Art in London with a host of exhibitions that showcase the capital's expertise

Antique textiles, Japanese lacquer, French royal furniture, bronzes, armour, Roman mosaics, Mughal silver--for Mr Garcia, these quickly become living things that can be combined to evoke particular moments in history.

A taste for history: the interior designer Jacques Garcia, currently refurbishing the 17th- and 18th-century period rooms at the Louvre, shares his obsessive passion for collecting with Apollo

Huge prices were found from private buyers for the likes of the grandest of Louis XVI ormolu-mounted ebony and Japanese lacquer commode a encoignures by Claude-Charles Saunier (Fig.

As good as it gets: London defied fears of summer lethargy in the market when its July sales achieved high prices in every field--including new records for Canaletto and Chinese porcelain