Vietnam Travel Journal: Lacquerware Studio Visit

My trip to Vietnam was spectacular on so many levels. I loved the food, the landscape, and the sweet, soft spoken people. That I got to hug my son everyday while I was there was the best of all. Over a series of Travel Journal blog posts, I hope to share some of the highlights of this life changing trip.  For my first post, a visit to a lacquerware studio…

During one of my tours of Hanoi, I visited Thu Huong Lacquer Arts.

Lacquer is considered a Vietnamese national art and is rich with cultural heritage.  Touring the studio space and seeing the process for creating these pieces was quite an education. I learned that artisans use the resin (sap ~ similar to maple trees in New England) from lacquer trees that grow in the North of Vietnam to protect delicate paintings and other forms of art.  The lacquer makes the surface of the painting smooth and glossy.  The creation of a lacquer product is the result of a time-honored process carried out by skilled artisans. Each item has 18 coats of lacquer, making them very durable.

I also learned that there are three kinds of lacquerware: painting, mother-of-pearl, and eggshell.  Eggshell lacquerware uses eggshells to create a motif that is then “sealed in” with the lacquer.

The eggshells can be applied as a somewhat large piece of shell which is then carved into or it can be miniscule pieces arranged to form an image.

I don’t think I would have the patience to do this!

Another effect uses the iridescence from shells applied to the artwork ~ I loved the sparkle.

My favorite piece was this gold leaf on a lacquered board with hand painting. The red cherry colors were so pretty on this artwork.

If you look closely at the stems of the cherry blossoms you will see that eggshells were also incorporated.

The artisans worked quickly and flawlessly.  I am not sure I would enjoy painting six identical pieces at the same time…

Here is a photo of a gift I brought home. I love the simple shape and the design created by the eggshell technique.

The next time you see a piece of lacquerware furniture or a decorative accessory, I hope you will have a renewed appreciation of how much work and history has gone into the making of these pieces of art!

xo,

Pamela

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