Basic Introduction to Dafang Lacquerware
Dafang Lacquerware is a traditional work of craft and art with ethnic style and local characteristics in Guizhou Province. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Dafang Lacquerware was selected as a “tribute” to be presented to the emperor. As a household decorative item for studies and living rooms, it adds an elegant, antique charm.
It is also used as daily utensils in people's homes for holding dry and fresh fruits, sweets, and even dishes. Dafang Lacquerware was extremely popular during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, almost every household in the ancient Dading Prefecture knew how to make lacquerware, hence it was known as the “Lacquer City.”
Product Features
The features of Dafang Lacquerware include elegant and realistic patterns, simple shapes, bright and reflective lacquer finish, vibrant colors, durability, and distinct national characteristics. Used as tableware, it does not conduct heat, mix flavors, leak, or attract pests; it is resistant to acids, alkalis, and is not prone to decay, nor does it fade.
Another specialty of Dafang Lacquerware is its use of leather from livestock such as cattle, horses, and sheep, with cotton, hemp, silk, satin, and wood as the core material, and high-quality raw lacquer from the local area as the main ingredient. The lacquer contains a high level of lacquer enzymes and phenols, which gives it good drying properties, bright color, resistance to dampness, acids, alkalis, and high temperatures.
Historical Folklore
According to historical records, the production of Dafang Lacquerware began during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, over 600 years ago. During the period when Lady Shexiang, an influential female politician of the Yi nationality, served as the Envoy of Guizhou, she presented many lacquerware treasures to Zhu Yuanzhang among her tributes.
The craftsmanship of Dafang Lacquerware in the folk society of the Qing Dynasty was more refined than in the Ming Dynasty. The lacquerware of the Daoguang period, such as the gold-painted leather-based lacquerware, was unique and renowned alongside Beijing carved lacquerware and Shanxi cloud-carved lacquerware, all recorded in history books.
In the Republican era, there were over ten specialized lacquerware workshops in Dafang, including “Wanshou Gong” and “Yisen Gong.” The artisans were skilled, particularly in shaping and finishing techniques, and their products were famous for their accuracy, tight seams, and meticulous craftsmanship. In 1915, at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco, USA, Guizhou Dafang Lacquerware and Jiangsu Yangzhou Lacquerware both won silver medals. They later became known as two of the “Three Treasures of Guizhou,” along with Maotai liquor and Yaping flutes and ocarinas.
Legend has it that long ago, although Dafang was covered with lacquer trees, people did not know their uses. Once, Emperor Duan of Dali traveled incognito and passed through Dafang. The mountain paths were rugged and narrow, and his robes got caught on lacquer trees and palm trees, which infuriated him. He cursed the lacquer trees and palms as things that deserved “thousands of cuts and ten thousand scrapings.” The emperor's words had great power, and indeed, later on, the lacquer trees had to be cut thousands of times, while the palm trees had to be scraped ten thousand times.
Although the legend is not credible, raw lacquer must indeed be obtained by cutting the tree. According to the “Dading County Annals,” “Lacquer trees grow in the mountains; their sap can be used to varnish objects, and their seeds can be made into wax, which is very suitable for daily human needs. However, the seeds are produced every year, while the sap can only be harvested every other year. Otherwise, there will be no sap, and the tree may be damaged. Its odor is very strong, causing pain and swelling upon sudden contact, so health-conscious people should avoid it.”
The production of raw lacquer in Dafang is quite high. In 1939 (the 28th year of the Republic of China), the output of raw lacquer reached 25 tons. After liberation, the government always attached great importance to the development of raw lacquer production, especially in the 1980s, providing support in terms of policy, funding, and technology, leading to rapid growth. In 1987, there were 26 million mature lacquer trees in the county, producing over 80 tons of raw lacquer, accounting for 20% of the total provincial production and ranking first among all counties in the province. It was the sixth-largest raw lacquer-producing county in the country. In 1991, the production of raw lacquer reached over 90 tons.
According to the “Dading County Annals,” “Lacquer trees grow in the mountains; their sap can be used to varnish objects, and their seeds can be made into wax, which is very suitable for daily human needs. However, the seeds are produced every year, while the sap can only be harvested every other year. Otherwise, there will be no sap, and the tree may be damaged. Its odor is very strong, causing pain and swelling upon sudden contact, so health-conscious people should avoid it.”
The production of raw lacquer in Dafang is quite high. In 1939 (the 28th year of the Republic of China), the output of raw lacquer reached 25 tons. After liberation, the government always attached great importance to the development of raw lacquer production, especially in the 1980s, providing support in terms of policy, funding, and technology, leading to rapid growth. In 1987, there were 26 million mature lacquer trees in the county, producing over 80 tons of raw lacquer, accounting for 20% of the total provincial production and ranking first among all counties in the province. It was the sixth-largest raw lacquer-producing county in the country. In 1991, the production of raw lacquer reached over 90 tons.
How to Identify Authenticity
“To identify fakes, one must first understand the genuine items. If you have no knowledge of their history and the genuine items, you cannot identify the fakes.” There are not many fake lacquerware items on the market, primarily some imitations of items from the Warring States and Qin-Han periods. It is easy to identify the authenticity of these items: we know that Warring States and Qin-Han lacquerware are archaeological artifacts that require a dehydration process. If you see this type of lacquerware on the market, its color will appear new. However, the items that have been unearthed and undergone dehydration for thousands of years have faded colors. Here are several simple methods for identification: First, you can pinch it with your fingers to determine the age of the lacquerware; new lacquerware will feel soft when pinched, whereas older pieces will have a certain degree of hardness. Second, you can use your sense of smell. Lacquerware has a distinctive odor, and it takes time to dissipate. If the lacquerware is newly made, you can easily detect the smell. Third, and most effectively, you can examine the crack patterns on the lacquerware. Crack patterns develop naturally over time due to weathering. This is the most accurate method for identifying authentic lacquerware. Fake lacquerware may also have artificial crack patterns, but they are regular. Natural crack patterns do not follow a pattern.
Awards and Honors for Dafang Lacquerware
Dafang Lacquerware products include various cups, plates, bowls, jars, bottles, vases, lacquer paintings, and furniture, totaling over 400 varieties. In October 1979, Dafang Lacquerware received the title of “Provincial Quality Product.” In October 1981, the “Red Treasure Sand Mother-of-Pearl Box” received “Congress Commendation” at the national tourism crafts and souvenirs evaluation.
In August 1983, the “Red Treasure Sand Mother-of-Pearl Box” met the requirements of “scientific, economical, sturdy, beautiful, and marketable,” and was rated as an “Excellent Packaging Product” in the province. In 1984, the following products were awarded Provincial Quality Tourist Products: “Eggshell-Embedded Crane Box,” “