Original Asian lacquer work spread from China to Korea, to Japan. It involved about 40 coats of slow drying natural lacquer from the sap of the Rhus Vernicifera tree and intensive flattening down between coats. Items could take years to complete.
Today we have quick-drying synthetic lacquers, making it possible to produce deep lacquer work and the ability to impress pattern and even deep crackle into the glaze.
