□ Introduction

o Title : Ottchil, the Coated Splendor of Asian Lacquerwares
o Period : December 21(Tue.), 2021 - March 20(Sun.), 2022 
          ※ Holiday: January 1, 2022, February 1, 2022.
o Venue : Special Exhibition Gallery, National Museum of Korea
o Exhibits : 263 exhibits, including the Box with Chrysanthemum Scroll Design
  
  

Lacquer is a natural varnish made from the sap of lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), which are native to Asia. Hence, lacquer has been widely used as a coating material in Asia since ancient times. The use of lacquer steadily expanded and diversified over time, with artisans from different regions devising and perfecting more sophisticated techniques. As a result, each Asian country developed its own unique lacquer culture with distinctive styles and methods.

Producing lacquerware is a notoriously prolonged and labor-intensive process, which has sometimes been called the “art of time.” It typically takes a minimum of several months to complete a single lacquerware, starting with collecting and refining the sap. The coating process, in which layers of lacquer must be repeatedly applied and left to dry, also requires great patience. Thus, even a tiny lacquerware is the result of countless hours of work. Hopefully, the splendid array of objects presented at this exhibition will enhance your appreciation for the amazing world of lacquer.

□ Videos