The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-14
How a Famous Japanese Tree Il
Cultivated

Cultivated.
Japanese lacquer, says the Baltimore
American, has been familiar name to the
entire civilized world for so many years that
1t is a matter of surprise to discover how
little it is understood. Recourse to the ordi-
nary books of reference does not repay the
trouble. and only serves to give greater
realization Of the prevailing ignorance Ex-
hibitions have shown the surface of articles
from China and Japan of marvellous beauty
and finish, and have afforded information in
regard to their cost without being able to
give the practical knowledge which an intel
gent public demand. The little volume en-
titled Oriental printed for the use of visit
ors to the Walters galleries, has been for the
last four years the most reliable source. and
it stands alone to-day in the matter of exact
information. The facilities afforded for a
careful study of the artistic individuality in
the choice collections Of lacquer, to which
the public have access in those galleries,
bring enhanced interest to such facts as can
be cleaned.
The ruhs vernicifera, an evergreen tree
from which the lac or gum Is obtained, is
cultivated In every section of japan AS
long ago as the sixth century, an edict of
the Emperor required every landholder to
plant certain proportion of his acreage
with this lacquer tree, just as he was com
PEELED to cultivate and maintain a certain
number of mulberry trees, and but for this
governmental support 1t is doubtful If the
art, even then widely practiced, would have
attained its great perfection. Every tree,
when tapped to obtain its gum, died In the
course Of two years. The amount obtained
from tree five years cid seldom exceeded
three ounces. In the mountainous districts
the tree was of slower growth, and was per-
mltted to grow for ten years before the gum
was drained. The gum varied in quality
according to the part Of the tree which ex-
uded it, that from the twigs being most
esteemed and drying with superior hardness
/. Among other uses In very remote periods
lacquer served in finishing collins, probably
Tor 0rnamentatlon as much as because 1t rend-
cred the wood impervious to moisture, but
It's every day uses were those which gradu-
ally raised 1t more and more to a place
among the arts The gum, when applied to
the prepared wood, can be prepared with
either oil or water. Modern lacquers con-
hence 1t comes that they do not possess
either the enduring qualities or beauty of
older work. True lac will not blister or peel
from the wood, and does not change appear
ahce from subsection to water or heat The
most conclusive test OF this property was in
1873 when the steamer Nile, returning to
Japan, with the specimen purchased for the
Yeddo museum, foundered in twenty-five
fathoms of water. Eighteen months after
olvers employed by the government recov-
ered zoo cases from the steamer and the
ancient lacquers were as perfect in joints,
color, and polish as when they left the
hands of their makers.
IL is worthy of note that although the
woods most valued as a basis of LACQUER
work are not of kinds which have ever been
esteemed valuable for their durability, vet
when imprisoned in the coatings of this gum.
they have remained as sound for centuries as
when first fashioned. And this is true Of
many specimens 700 years old, examples of
which may be seen in the cases of the Wal
ters galleries.