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Like so many things in our world, the techniques for making lacquerware
are thought to have originated in China. Lacquer, of course, is
fundamental to the process and it was originally made from the sap
of indigenous trees belonging to the sumac family. This slow-drying
liquid was then applied to a variety of objects, ranging from small
trinkets and containers to doors, panels and large pieces of furniture.
The core material upon which the lacquer is painted can be virtually
anything, including wood, bamboo, clay, metal, a basket or even
woven horse hair.
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Today, traditional lacquers have often been replaced with products
developed in chemical labs and the objects to which it is applied
are often mass produced. The methods of the past required repeated
coatings of lacquer and constant rubbing and polishing, a process
that could take weeks or months to complete. This conflicts with
the realities and economics of modern life, but it is still possible
to find objects created in the traditional way. These will either
be old pieces (often antiques) or contemporary pieces created in
remote areas, or perhaps, pieces created by skilled artisans interested
in preserving the techniques and methods of the past.
The knowledge of how to produce lacquerware came to Thailand
from Burma. The best known pieces feature inlaid gold leaf on a
black background, but pieces using egg shells and mother of pearl
as an inlay are also quite common. Pieces coloured matte red with
black and green details painted on them are also very common and
frequently very beautiful. A wide variety of lacquerware objects
are produced, including trays, boxes, baskets, rice bowls and alms
bowls. The designs range from flowers and trees to motifs based
on the Ramakian or Buddhist stories. The best Thai pieces come from
the 17th and 18th century during the late Ayutthaya and early Bangkok
periods.
The Chiang Mai area is best known for creating Thai lacquerware.
It is readily available in Bangkok
at handicraft stores, from hawkers on the street, the Chatuchak
Weekend Market and, the Narayana Phan Pavilion; the government sponsored
handicraft centre, housed in a building across from the World Trade
Center. Tourists often take home lacquered pieces as mementos of
their trip to Thailand. They are light, easy to pack and often good
value for money.
Some of the best lacquerware available in Thailand, however, originates
from outside the country. Pieces from Myanmar (Burma) are often
excellent buys, particularly gold-inlaid pieces with intricate designs
of human or mythological figures. The prices for these handcrafted
Burmese pieces are often comparable to the prices charged for mass
produced Thai articles with painted rather than inlaid ornamentation.
If you get to a town near the border with Myanmar, these pieces
of lacquerware can usually be purchased at prices that represent
excellent value for money. Although more expensive in Bangkok, they
are still very reasonably priced.
Less common in Bangkok
is Vietnamese lacquerware, but it is beautiful to look at and easy
to identify. The colour is invariably red-brown instead of black
and is usually inlaid with mother of pearl. In addition the pieces
are usually much larger than those from Myanmar or Thailand and
can include items such as room dividers or pieces of furniture.
The craftsmanship of Vietnamese lacquerware is often of higher quality
than that of Burma or Thailand; making it an excellent buy when
size and quality are taken into account.
Older items, including genuine antiques are available at places
like the Silom Galleria, Oriental Plaza or River City Shopping Complex.
Especially popular are the circular picnic boxes used to transport
food. Like all antiques these pieces are extremely expensive and
require permission from the Department of Fine Arts to be exported.
Shops selling the pieces will, however, help with the paperwork
necessary for export.
Lacquerware is a beautiful and relatively inexpensive item that
will add sparkle and beauty to dinner tables and the interior of
any home. Available at handicraft centres and shops throughout Bangkok,
it is an Asian specialty that varies slightly in form and style
from one Asian country to another. If you are looking for an elegant
reminder of a trip to Asia or a piece to add drama and beauty to
the interior of your home, Asian lacquerware is always a good choice.
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