How the Vietnamese Artisan Creates Lacquerware

1. Woodcraft:
   The process of shaping lacquer products, which can be made of wood, coconut shell or horn material, is often called carpentry. Lacquer artists will carefully check the quality of the wood to ensure it is smooth, without cracks or protrusions. Then they will apply a layer of glue to the wood to protect the product surface.
2. “Hom”:
   The wood is then covered with a thick layer of paint mixture, made from natural lacquer, stone powder, fine mountain soil, sawdust and alluvial soil, then covered with a layer of fine cotton cloth to increase hardness and ensure durability. The product does not crack in cold, dry climates.

   

   • Eggshell mosaic: This is a step that only appears with specific products inlaid with eggshells. After applying 6 to 8 layers of lacquer, lacquer artists will proceed with the decoration stage. Carving eggs is a difficult technique that requires high skill, concentration and meticulous attention to detail to ensure the pattern is always stable and soft in every movement.
   • Grinding: The artisans will coat the product with a layer of natural lacquer, and the part with patterns will be covered with clear paint. After this paint layer dries, lightly grind the product surface under a freshwater lake. This process will be repeated many times continuously.
3. Gold/silver inlay:

   
   This is a step that only appears with specific products plated with gold or silver. The technique of gluing gold and silver on lacquer has been around for thousands of years. It requires skill, dedication and concentration from the lacquer artist because with a thickness of 0.1 micron, each gold leaf is a work of art.

4. Enter color:
   Artists apply color to the surface of the product. They do this job very carefully to ensure the paint layer is even and smooth.
5. Grinding color:

   
   Color grinding is a special form of water grinding technique that, when combined with other lacquering processes, gives the product a mirror-like glossy appearance.
   Artists use paint brushes to color the products, so it is inevitable that they will leave paint streaks on the surface. The grinding process helps remove all the roughness of the color layer and makes the product surface brighter and smoother.

6. Hand painted or engraved:
   The technique of engraving on lacquer originated in China, then was perfected by Vietnamese artisans. The patterns and motifs of Vietnamese lacquer bring unique characteristics from the life and culture here. After the polishing step, the artisans carve and color the patterns on the lacquer background. Hand painting is a lacquer decoration technique that requires meticulous attention to detail. Artists create patterns on the surface of the product and then hand-draw each line, to express the creativity and uniqueness of the product.

   

7. Complete:
   With the diversity in creating and perfecting products, artisans will perform appropriate operations.
   • Glossy or matte coating: Glossy or matte coating technique on lacquer helps protect the product surface from the effects of other elements such as stains or fingerprints and gives the product a fashionable and modern look.
   • Optical grinding: The product is ground and polished one last time to highlight the sophistication and sharpness of decorative patterns.
   • Polishing: Polishing is the process of gently rubbing the product surface until it becomes beautiful and smooth. The artisan adjusts the machine to the appropriate grinding level to polish the surface until the product reaches perfect shine.

Vietnamese lacquer art is a painstaking process that takes a lot of time and effort. Each lacquer work, whether large or small, demonstrates the craftsmanship and meticulousness of traditional Vietnamese culture the skill and meticulousness of a traditional Vietnamese cultural heritage.