The traditional Lacquer Process

The traditional lacquer process practiced in our production  is complicated and as a result it can take up to 90 days to finish one piece. Your product has been through up to 40 stages in the lacquering process before it is completed.

1. Making a lacquer product starts with a raw base. Depending on the shape required, the base material will vary. Lacquer bases for boxes and trays can be made from MDF, vases and bowls are usually made from solid timber, and bamboo is used as a base for platters.
2. The raw shape is examined and any cracks and indentations are sealed with lacquer. This process is repeated twice (stages 2-3)
4. The intended shape is covered with fine cotton gauze and a coat of resin is applied to ensure there will be no cracking at a later stage.
5. After 2 days, the cotton gauze is trimmed and the product is sanded back with rough sand paper.
6. The piece is covered with a further ten layers of resin***. After each coat of lacquer has dried, the product is sanded back. Traditionally this process is known as “son mai” which means painting on, then sanding back. This process will provide the finest finish.
28. After the layers of resin have been applied and the sanding is complete (stages 6-27), the base of the product is finished. Depending on the design the product may be covered with silver leaf for a silver or gold metallic finish or painted with designs or plain colours.
29. The product is sanded back in water with very fine sanding paper.
30. For a metallic finish 3 coats of clear lacquer are added to the silver leaf (30-33). For a patterned design, the design is painted on and the item is sanded. This can be repeated up to 6 times depending on the design. Afterward one final coat of clear lacquer is used to seal the product (stages 30 to 40). For a plain colour 3 coats of colour are applied and each coat is sanded back. A coat of clear lacquer is put on (30-38)
34. The product is polished with oil.
35. Hinges, locks etc are fitted.

Your product has 16 to 20 layers. Please handle it with care. Do not soak it in water, instead wipe with a damp cloth after use. Do not put very hot food in it. Do not put stickers on its surface. The 16-20 layers make it very durable and you will have years of use if you look after it correctly.
Most of all enjoy your Lacquer product and remember that it has been totally made by hand in the north of Vietnam. There is no other piece exactly the same as yours.

***Ten layers are applied and sanded back between each layer as described below:

• 2 coats of natural resin, sawdust and alluvial soil (stage 6-9)
• 2 coats of natural resin with alluvial soil (stages 10-14)
• 1 coat of pure natural resin. Prodcut is stored in an air light, clean room until dry (stages 15-16)
• 3 fine coats of natural resin and alluvial soil are applied and sanded back until the surface is really smooth (stage 17-21)
• Natural resin is beaten for 24 hours to form a glutinous mixture. This is the only stage which involves the use of machinery.

2 coats of the glutinous mixture are applied. The product is again stored in an airy light, clean room until completely dry (stage 23-27)