The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-20 00:00:00

ON TITE CHINESE LACKER.

In our sixth number we published the contents
of a letter from a gentleman in Calcutta, to a friend
is China, containing inquiries regarding the nature
of the Chinese lacker, and a suggestion whether it
might be the same as the Burmese varnish, of which
a specimen was sent for the purpose of trial and
comparison. The reply, which was also published
in that number, was not so full or satisfactory as
could hare been wished; and, indeed, the most in-
teresting and important of the queries, the identity
of the two substances, was left altogether unnoticed.
The following letter, which has been recently re-
ceived, in a great measure supplies these deficienees;
and, we think, will he read with interest. We wish,
however, we could print the specimens sent by the
writer of the letter, ad they throw more light on the
subject than cart any description. The inferior sort
of No. 1 of the Chinese lacker was, we thought, a
little better than the Burmese, but very little ; the
ethers decidedly so ; but the best, or No. 5, was
exceedingly beautiful, and its lustre can only be com-
pared to that of polished metal. The preparatory
coating, of which also a specimen was sent, ap-
peared to us as very similar to the size coating given
by painters to curriages before laying on the proper
colour. As far as these specimens go, they ap-
pear to us to decide the question ie the negative,
and as to the identity of the two lackers ; but
whether justice has been done the Burmese varnish
is a question worth considering ; it is particularly to
be adverted to, that the Chinese have five sorts, of
which the worst is probably not much if at all better
than the ordinary Burmese varnish. These fire sorts
are all drawn from the same tree, the only difference
being the order in which they are drawn, that taken
first being bes, and so on. It is possible that the.
Burmese may not be aware of this circumstance;
and it might he worth 'inquiry to ascertain whether
there be any difference in the quality according to
its priority of flowing. This point may be even
worthy of attention though the specimen of the tree
which is premised in the letter should prove that
the two are not the same, inasmuch as it might oc-
casion the same improvement of the Burmese var-
nish, as it has evidently of the Chinese.

There is only one kind of lacker used in China,
which is opaque ; but there are five degrees
of quality—the first drawn from the tree being
the best, and the quality gradually diminishing in
goodness, in proportion to the quantity extracted—
it is used in its pure simple state.
Previous to laying on the lacker, the wood is co-
vered over with a thin eoating of clay (of which a
specimen accompanies). The clay is used mixed
with water only. When dry, and the surface po-
lished, it is coated over with the common bicker, and
dried in the shade, when it appears of a dull black
colour. It is then coated again, and dried in the
shade. This process is repeated as often as desired,
each time with lacker of a better quality than the
preceding, the surface being rendered smooth or
polished before each coating. The last coating is
dried in the sun, which is the only process employed
to render it transparent.
The transparent black is produced by the pure
bicker, without any colouring matter, or being dis-
solved in any oil or spirit. When another colour is
wanted, the colouring matter is mixed with the
backer used for the last coating, which, like the black,
is rendered transparent by being dried in the sun.
Specimens are sent herewith of the different qua-
litiee of lacker, No. 1 being the most common, and
No. 5 the best.
Is general our coats of hacker are deemed suffi-
cient for any colour, except black, to produce which,
of good quality, five coats are required, the finest
quality of tacker being used for the last coat.
I send herewith pieces of lackered wood, showing
the different grades of the lackering process.
I send also a piece of wood lackered over with
the Rangoon lacker, sent on here last year. It was
used in the pure state like the Chinese lacker; and
tile manufacturer observed that it required about
four time as much expoaure to the atmosphere to
dry, as the Chinese lacker, and when dry it was very
inferior in point of transparency. Indeed it remains
soft, and rubs off. ( When it reached Calcutta it
was quite hard, the nail had no effect on it.—ED.)

MAILS.
Arrived. Due. Arrived. Due.
O America........., 1 0 Hamburg
1 Brazil
O Buenos Ayres 0 0 Jamaica U
O Carthage). 0 0 Leeward Wanda
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1 Flanders 0 (1 Mexico
1 France 0 1 Sweden
1 Cuermey&Jersey.. 0 41 Waterford