The Red Cloud chief., 1888-08-10
LACQUER.

JAPANESE LACQUER.
Tho Evergreen Tree ffon which the La
Q or Gum l. Obt.inod.
Japanese lacquer has been a famil-
lar name to the entire civilized world
for 70 many years that it is a matter OF
surprise to discover how little it Is UNI
derstood. Recourse to the ordinary
books of reference does not repay the
trouble, and only serves to give .
greater realization of the prevailing
ignorance. Exhibitions have shown
the surface OF articles from China and
Japan of marvellous beauty and fin
ish, and have afforded information in
regard to their cost without being
able to give the practical knowledge
which an intelligent public demand.
The little volume entitled Oriental"
printed for the use OF visitors 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 = careful study Of the ar
tistic individuality in the choice col
lections Of lacquer. to which tho 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 gun il oh.
tanned, is cultivated in every section Of
Japan. As long ago as the sixth CEN
fury an edict Of the Emperor required
every landhOlder to plant a certain
proportion Of his acreage with this lac
quer tree. just as he was compelled to
cultivate and MAINTAIN a certain num-
Der of mulberry trees, and but for this
governmental support it is doubtful il
the art. even then widely practiced.
would have attained its great perfec-
ton. Every tree. when tapped to OBJ
tain its gum, died in the u of two
years. The amount obtained from a
tree i've years old seldom exceeded
three ounces. In the mountainous dis
tricts the tree was of slower growth.
and was permitted to grow for ten
years before the gum was drained.
The gum varied in quality according
to the part of the tree which excluded
it. that from the twigs being most es-
teemed and drying with superior hard
ness.
Among other uses in very remote
periods lacquer served in finishing cOf-
fins. probably for characterization as
much as because it rendered the wood
imperviOus to moisture, but its every
day Uses were those which gradually
raised it more and more to a place
among the arts. The gum. when ap-
piled to the prepared wood. can DO pre-
pared with either oil or water. Mod
ern lacquers contain scarcely a trace
of the true gum. and hence it comes
that they do not possess either the en-
qualities or beauty of older
work. True lac will not blister
peel from the wood. and does not
change appearance 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 divers employed by tho
Government recovered 200 cases from
tho steamer, and the ancient lacquers
were IS perfect in joints. color. and
polish as when they left the hands Of
their makers.
It 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. yet. 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. exam
pies of which may be seen in the cases
of the Walters galleries. -BaltiMOre
A~,