Vietnamese Natural Lacquer is produced mostly in mountains of Phu Tho province. The climate which never goes down 12 degree C even in winter, and the red soil in this region are said to be the ideal condition for Lacquer plantation.
Lacquer practice goes through many stages: finding ideas, sketching on wood, painting, drying paintings in a closed room with high humidity. The artwork will appear after grinding under water and repeating the steps for around approximately 7-8 times until the work is completed.This form of painting requires a lot of patience because each layer must be dried before paint or clear lacquer can go on. It takes artists 4-10 months to finish a lacquer painting made from scratch.
The element of Vietnamese lacquer which gives itself a beautiful glow, durability and cohesiveness is called Laccol, while respective element in Japanese lacquer is called Urushiol. The enzyme within lacquer continues to cause chemical reaction with the help of gummy substance even after artists finished their work. Therefore, clarity, glow and hardness of painting enhances as time passes.
Vietnamese Natural lacquer is a precious and mysterious material which breathes just like us and it ages like good wine.
