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Today, Sichuan lacquer includes mainly craft lacquer and lacquer painting. The main techniques applied by the lacquer are carving and filling with colors and various material such as bamboo, wood, metal, figures mounted with shells, bones, stones and eggshells, which endow Sichuan lacquer with unique style, strong local flavor and aesthetic value.
Sichuan is famous for raw lacquer, and Sichuan lacquers are famous art wares. As early as 2000 years ago, Sichuan lacquer had the virtues of shining and bright, and they were free of cleft, deformation and rot, which have been fully approved by the unearthed cultural relics.
Up to Han Dynasty, Sichuan lacquer had been very popular in central China. The categories of Sichuan lacquer vary from boxes to dressing cases, to plates, to cups with handle, to flat pot, to desk, to coiling blocks and so on. Figures of bird, animals and supernatural beings were subtly painted on the lacquers. Modern lacquer inherits the tradition, and at the same time, it is making great innovation and the innovations are especially unique on the carving and filling with colors, the colored drawing, the embossed lacquer. These lacquers are not only used as daily appliances such as plates, jars, boxes, pots, bowls, tea sets, drinking vessels and sets, but also used as furnishings such as vase, folding screen, desk screen and wall screen.
There are great varieties of Sichuan lacquers such as wood base, flax base, paper base, plastic base and so on. These lacquers have attractive and quaint appearance. Surface of them are as transparent as water and as bright as mirror. The most outstanding feature of Sichuan lacquer is carving & filling in colors.
Embroidery, brocade, lacquer and bullion appliances, especially Chengdu lacquer, are known as the ?°Four Treasures" of traditional Sichuan craft art articles. With 2300-year history and the unique style of exquisite handcraft and perfect craftsmanship of the carving & filling with colors, Chengdu lacquer is national present to foreign leaders, and is also considered as treasures by collectors. Because of high costs, too long processing time, debts and management problems, the production of Chengdu Lacquer Factory had to quit.
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