he technique of using lacquer for handicrafts and decorative items in the household has a long tradition in Vietnam since it was introduced from China centuries ago. The French introduced Western paintings and techniques into the country, in particular after the establishment of the Fine Arts University, Ecole des Beaux Art d'Indochine, in Hanoi in 1925. The traditional lacquer technique, which had earlier been used for handicrafts and decorative household items, was now applied to paintings, creating a new art form. The first lacquer paintings were quite traditional in expressing scenes of natural beauty. Later, lacquer paintings promoted socialist and communist values. However, since Vietnam became more outward looking in the 1980s and 1990s, young artists have explored and reinvented the old art form, placing it in a new, contemporary context to create highly innovative and interesting paintings. Each artist has different ways of using lacquer to produce paintings, and some details are known only to the artists themselves. However, there are some features common to all lacquer paintings.

The Board

The core of the board is made from plywood and the boards come in a variety of sizes. After layers of black lacquer are applied to the board and it is dried and polished, we are left with a piece of black board, that appears very smooth and durable. One should note that the board is very resistant. The board is hard, strong and is not easily damaged.

The Lacquer and Colours

Lacquer is a clear sap coming from any of six species of trees growing in Vietnam, the main one being Rhus (or Toxicodendron) succedanea in the north and Melanorrhoea (or Gluta) laccifera in the south, both belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. Lacquer is harvested in the same way as rubber, by making an incision and letting the sap flow. Fresh lacquer is whitish, and turns brown upon exposure to air. It should be noted that lacquer is not a harmless substance. It is a common skin irritant and a cause of contact dermatitis, as well as being potentially carcinogenic. Black lacquer stems from a chemical reaction between lacquer and iron, and results from stirring the lacquer with an iron rod for a few days. Lacquer will be mixed with various natural or artificial dyes to produce the colours the artists want. Several shades of red are extracted from a naturally occurring red mineral, cinnabar (mercuric sulfide). White is produced from eggshell. Eggs from ducks are used because they have a better structure than hens' eggs. The eggshells are cleaned and sometimes even burned to obtain a brownish tinge. Most bright colours come from artificial dyes.

Other Materials

Several other materials may be used to make lacquer paintings, some of the most common being gold leaf and silver leaf. Silver is used below the layers of colours to create an effect of immense luster. Gold leaf, on the other hand, is often applied as the final layer.

Applying Colours and Polishing

Making a lacquer painting is a long and arduous process. It may take several months, depending on the specific technique of the artist and how many layers of lacquer are included.