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The Thousand-year History of Chinese Lacquerware
Chinese lacquerware evolved from single-colored natural lacquer to multi-colored designs over a long period of time. A wooden vessel coated with red lacquer, found at a Neolithic site dating back 6,000 to 7,000 years, resembles the material of Han-dynasty lacquereware. However, multi-colored lacquerware production did not begin until the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern dynasties popularized the jiazhutai technique, using sumac and hemp cloth. The Tang dynasty introduced intricate designs like pingtuo and mother-of-pearl inlays. The Yuan dynasty advanced the carved lacquerware with techniques such as tihong, tixi, and qiangjin. The Ming and Qing dynasties marked the zenith of lacquerware artistry, blending diverse techniques and patterns under the imperial patronage.