Why Handmade Lacquerware Is Expensive: The Traditional Craft Behind Chinese Lacquer
Why Handmade Lacquerware Is So Valuable
Understanding the Complex Craft Behind Traditional Lacquer Art
Discover how traditional lacquerware is made and why authentic handmade lacquer requires months of skilled craftsmanship and complex techniques.
Introduction
To many people encountering authentic lacquerware for the first time, one question naturally arises:
Why is handmade lacquerware so valuable?
The answer lies in the extraordinary complexity of the craft.
Traditional lacquerware is created using natural tree sap, layered by hand over long periods of time, combined with decorative techniques that often require years or even decades of training to master.
Unlike industrial coatings, lacquerware cannot be mass-produced easily.
A single piece may take several months to complete, and in some historical techniques, the process could take over a year.
To understand its value, we must first understand how lacquerware is made.
Step 1 — The Foundation: Creating the Base Structure
Every lacquer object begins with a base structure, known traditionally as the tai (胎).
Different materials can be used depending on the object:
Common bases include
- wood
- bamboo
- ceramic
- metal
- fabric-based structures (cloth and lacquer composite)
One particularly famous traditional structure is cloth-lacquer composite, where layers of fabric are combined with lacquer ash to create a lightweight yet extremely durable form.
The base must be carefully shaped and stabilized before the lacquer process can begin.
Step 2 — Reinforcement: Cloth Mounting and Surface Preparation
To prevent cracking or deformation, craftsmen often apply linen or ramie cloth to the surface of wooden objects.
This process strengthens the structure and allows the lacquer layers to adhere properly.
After the cloth is applied, the surface is coated with lacquer mixed with powdered minerals or ash, a material known as lacquer putty.
Step 3 — Leveling the Surface: The Ash and Lacquer Layers
The surface is then repeatedly coated with mixtures of:
- raw lacquer
- powdered clay
- brick ash
- mineral powders
Each layer must be carefully applied, dried, and polished.
This stage is used to:
- correct imperfections
- strengthen the structure
- create a perfectly smooth base for later lacquer layers
Even before decorative lacquer is applied, this stage may require dozens of applications and polishings.
Step 4 — The Core Process: Layering Natural Lacquer
The core technique of lacquerware is called “lacquering” (髹, xiu), meaning the application of natural lacquer onto a surface.
This is the oldest and most fundamental lacquer technique.
Each lacquer layer must go through four steps:
- applied by hand using a brush
- placed in a humidity-controlled curing room
- slowly hardened through natural chemical reaction
- polished before the next layer
Unlike modern paints, natural lacquer cures through humidity rather than air drying.
Because of this unique property, lacquer pieces must be stored in special curing chambers.
A typical lacquer object may require 20 to more than 100 layers of lacquer.
This process alone can take weeks or months.
Step 5 — Decorative Techniques
Once the base lacquer surface is completed, artisans may apply a wide range of decorative techniques.
These techniques form one of the most sophisticated decorative systems in world craftsmanship.
They are usually divided into several major categories.
Painted Decoration
This group involves drawing directly onto the lacquer surface.
Examples include
Gold Painting (Miao Jin)
Gold powder is used to paint intricate patterns, creating a luxurious appearance.
Gold Shading (Yun Jin)
Gold powder is softly blended to produce gradients similar to ink painting.
Incised Gold (Qiang Jin)
Fine lines are carved into the lacquer surface and then filled with gold or silver powder.
This technique is known in Japan as Chinkin.
Inlay Decoration
Inlay techniques embed other precious materials into the lacquer surface.
Common materials include
- abalone shell
- mother-of-pearl
- gold and silver
- jade
- coral
- amber
The most famous technique is mother-of-pearl inlay, known as luodian in Chinese.
When light strikes the shell surface, it produces iridescent colors, giving lacquerware a jewel-like brilliance.
Another historic technique is gold and silver flat inlay, which was especially popular during the Tang Dynasty.
Carved Lacquer
Carved lacquer is one of the most iconic Chinese lacquer techniques.
In this method, artisans apply hundreds of layers of colored lacquer, sometimes reaching several millimeters or even centimeters in thickness.
When the lacquer reaches sufficient thickness, craftsmen carve intricate relief designs directly into the surface.
Famous variations include:
Tihong (Carved Red Lacquer)
The most famous form of carved lacquer.
Tixi (Layered Lacquer Carving)
Layers of different colored lacquer are carved to reveal striking cross-section patterns.
Texture Techniques
Some lacquer techniques focus on creating natural flowing textures.
One of the most famous is Xipi lacquer, sometimes translated as tiger-skin lacquer.
Through special layering and polishing methods, the surface forms patterns resembling:
- flowing clouds
- pine bark
- animal skin textures
Each piece is completely unique.
Relief Decoration
Another technique is raised lacquer decoration, where artisans build three-dimensional patterns using lacquer paste.
These designs may later be decorated with
- gold leaf
- pigments
- carving details.
The result is a strong sculptural effect.
Step 6 — The Final Finish: Polishing and Mirror Gloss
After decoration is complete, the surface undergoes the final stage known as polishing.
Using fine powders, plant oils, and repeated hand polishing, the lacquer surface develops its famous deep, mirror-like glow.
This luster is not superficial.
Instead, it seems to come from within the layers of lacquer, giving traditional lacquerware its distinctive warmth and depth.
Why Lacquerware Requires So Much Time
Several factors make lacquerware extremely time-consuming to produce:
Natural lacquer must cure slowly
Each layer requires polishing
Decorative techniques require high precision
The process cannot be rushed
As a result, creating a single lacquer object may take:
three months to over one year
depending on complexity.
Lacquerware as Art
For thousands of years, lacquerware has occupied a unique place between craft, art, and daily life.
It was used historically by:
- imperial courts
- scholars
- aristocrats
Today, modern artisans continue this tradition by creating lacquer pieces for contemporary life.
Objects such as tea cups, coffee cups, and tableware allow this ancient craft to remain alive in the modern world.
Conclusion
Traditional lacquerware is not expensive because of luxury branding.
It is valuable because it represents:
- rare natural materials
- months of handcrafted labor
- centuries of cultural knowledge
Each piece is the result of patience, craftsmanship, and artistic vision.
And that is what makes lacquerware truly extraordinary.
