Ancient lacquerware into a fashionable collection

The extravagance of lacquerware is a microcosm of the development of Chinese civilization. Not only in its exquisite shape and precious materials, but also in its technological progress that represents mankind's transition from one civilization to another. From the Neolithic vermilion lacquered wooden bowl of Hemudu to the peak of the Ming and Qing dynasties, China can be said to be the first country in the world to use lacquer to make utensils. The complexity of the lacquerware process shows its preciousness, with wood ash or metal as the tire, and then dozens or hundreds of layers of paint on the upper layer of the fetal bone, and then according to a variety of different types of craftsmanship when it is semi-dry, or painted with drawings, or carved patterns, or depicted gold inlaid with tin... The whole process lasts for several years before a piece of lacquerware is completed.

The value of lacquerware lies not only in its long history, but also in its exquisite craftsmanship. The natural lacquer used in the production of lacquerware is very elaborate, and the ancients had the saying of "a hundred thousand knives and one or two lacquers", which shows its preciousness. The production process of lacquerware is quite cumbersome, generally divided into material selection, tire shaping, painting, painting, polishing, drying and other steps, a little negligence will be abandoned. The scarcity of inventories is also the most distinctive feature of lacquerware. Because of this, its luxurious and unparalleled artistic value is regarded as priceless by many literati and inkers. Through the exquisite lacquerware, we can also see the beauty of texture, affinity and charm behind its luxury.

Lacquerware 5 pieces of literature

Lacquerware craftsmanship has its own advantages

In the collection of Chinese lacquerware, lacquerware is divided into many craft categories, such as red, rhinoceros, screw, gold... Each style is different, and the performance is different.

Red lacquerware - the king's style is graceful and luxurious

Red, that is, carved red paint, belongs to the category of carved paint. Beginning in the Tang Dynasty, the production method was to paint the fetal bone layer by layer with red paint, and each layer of coating had to be dried, and so on until it was dozens of layers, and then carved a pattern on it. Gao Lian's "Yan Xian Qing Appreciation Note" said that the work of the Ming Dynasty Orchard Factory was "lacquer Zhu thirty-six times as foot", which shows the important position of red in carving lacquer. Red lacquerware reached its peak during the Yongle and Xuande periods of the Ming Dynasty.

Sharp lacquerware - flow freely Calm and quiet

Rhinoceros, belongs to the class of carved lacquer. Originated in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, it is a precious species in the cultural heritage of Chinese lacquerware. The method is to use two or three kinds of paint on the fetal bone (mostly red and black colors), accumulate layer by layer regularly, to a considerable thickness, and then use the knife to obliquely remove the pattern patterns such as the back-grained cloud hook, and different color layers can be seen on the section of the knife edge. This unique effect is formed into a pattern, flowing freely, swirling vividly, and achieving a more varied decorative effect than the pure color carving paint, so it is also called "cloud carving".

Screw lacquerware - delicate ornamentation and harmonious tones

Screws are made from shells, cut into thin sheets, and inlaid on the surface of lacquerware. Due to the different thicknesses of the shells cut, there are two types: thick screw and thin screw. Screw lacquerware has high artistic value as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a new development in the technique of screw and tin ornamentation, especially as a decoration on the back of the bronze mirror, which shined brightly. In the Tang Dynasty, it was found that thicker screw pieces were inlaid on the surface of lacquerware, and there were two kinds of screw lacquerware in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, thick and thin. Thick screw tungsten and thin screw tungsten ware popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties, thick screw tungsten is more common in large pieces of furniture, thin screw tungsten than thick screw tungsten has a greater development, delicate and exquisite, reached an amazing degree.

Carved lacquerware - brilliant as splendid and magnificent

The number of carved lacquerware is second only to the red lacquerware. The method is to first use the method of painting to make a pattern, and then draw a yin line along the contour of the pattern, and finely outline the texture on the pattern, and fill the gold in the line. In the carving and filling apparatus of the Ming and Qing dynasties, some of the patterns were made of carved and painted paint, some of the patterns were painted with color paint, and some of the patterns were filled and depicted.

Depicting gold lacquerware - graceful and luxurious, majestic and prominent

Depicting gold, also known as illuminated paint. The production method is to paint the pattern with vermilion or black lacquer on the ground of the fading paint, and after drying, the gold glue is applied to the pattern, and then the gold is pasted on it. Black lacquer is the most common, followed by vermilion lacquer, and other lacquered fields are less common.

"Lacquer" goods can be lived

Lacquerware never became popular in jade, porcelain, and gold and silverware, and was not popular in the collectible auction market. But it is regarded as the only traditional artifact that can represent Chinese civilization in the posture of the times. Lacquerware collection From this perspective of the history of the development of Chinese lacquerware, there are two peaks: the first peak was in the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties; The second peak was during the Ming and Qing dynasties, when lacquerware craftsmanship was divided into 14 categories and 101 varieties. Among the intangible cultural heritage rated nationwide, 8 crafts are included. With China's emphasis on cultural relics and craftsmanship in recent years, and the repeated success of ancient Chinese lacquerware at international auctions, the former Chinese luxury goods have regained the glory of history.

As a craft, lacquerware is worth inextricably linked to the makers. It is not easy to find the fine works of the older masters, and the works of modern masters are equally difficult to find, but as long as the two things are the same, the investment appreciation is certain. Industry experts believe that in order to explore the investment value of lacquerware, we must first understand the types of lacquerware, just like porcelain is divided into blue and white, pastel, lacquer collection is also divided into different types in different periods. For example, Ming and Qing lacquerware is divided into 14 categories, including overcoat paint, paint drawing, gold drawing, painting and other processes. Judging from the current auction market, such as red picking and hundred treasure inlays are more favored, collectors can establish categories according to their own hobbies.