The traditional lacquer process practiced in Vietnam is quite complicated and can take up to 115 days to finish one piece. Even a simple bowl takes a minimum of 75 days and goes through 20 stages in the lacquering process before it is finished.
The stages are:
1. The raw wood is examined and any cracks and indentations are sealed with lacquer from the native lacquer tree ("rhus seccedanea" tree, "anacardium occidentale" tree family) in Phu Tho Province, located northeast of Hanoi.
2. After checking that the lacquer has not affected the intended shape of the item, the product is then covered with fine cotton gauze to ensure that there will be no cracking at a later stage.
3. Next, the piece is covered with a thick coating which is a mixture of natural lacquer, finely ground mountain rock, sawdust, and alluvial soil.
4. When the coating has dried, the product is placed under fresh water and polished by using a sharpening stone.
5. Using a brush made from natural fibres, a mixture of alluvial soil and natural lacquer is painted onto the product.
6. Step 4 is repeated.
7. Step 5 is repeated.
8. Step 4 is repeated.
9. The product is covered with pure natural lacquer.
10. Lacquer is beaten for 24 hours to form a glutinous mixture. This mixture is then applied to the piece as a thick coating.
11 Once again the product is polished under water with a sharpening stone
12. Step 10 is repeated.
13. Step 11 is repeated.
14. The base design is stencilled and the details are painted by hand, which makes every lacquer product an original piece. No two pieces are quite alike.
15. The bare surface area is painted with traditional lacquer and the areas with design are painted with a special clear lacquer.
16. A second coat of clear lacquer is then applied.
17. A third coat of clear lacquer is then applied.
18. The product is polished with wax.
19. Hinges and locks [if any] are fitted.
20. The logo is silk screened onto the base of the product.
The stages are:
1. The raw wood is examined and any cracks and indentations are sealed with lacquer from the native lacquer tree ("rhus seccedanea" tree, "anacardium occidentale" tree family) in Phu Tho Province, located northeast of Hanoi.
2. After checking that the lacquer has not affected the intended shape of the item, the product is then covered with fine cotton gauze to ensure that there will be no cracking at a later stage.
3. Next, the piece is covered with a thick coating which is a mixture of natural lacquer, finely ground mountain rock, sawdust, and alluvial soil.
4. When the coating has dried, the product is placed under fresh water and polished by using a sharpening stone.
5. Using a brush made from natural fibres, a mixture of alluvial soil and natural lacquer is painted onto the product.
6. Step 4 is repeated.
7. Step 5 is repeated.
8. Step 4 is repeated.
9. The product is covered with pure natural lacquer.
10. Lacquer is beaten for 24 hours to form a glutinous mixture. This mixture is then applied to the piece as a thick coating.
11 Once again the product is polished under water with a sharpening stone
12. Step 10 is repeated.
13. Step 11 is repeated.
14. The base design is stencilled and the details are painted by hand, which makes every lacquer product an original piece. No two pieces are quite alike.
15. The bare surface area is painted with traditional lacquer and the areas with design are painted with a special clear lacquer.
16. A second coat of clear lacquer is then applied.
17. A third coat of clear lacquer is then applied.
18. The product is polished with wax.
19. Hinges and locks [if any] are fitted.
20. The logo is silk screened onto the base of the product.
