Art of Lacquering, Traditional Craftwork with Long History

The art of lacquering is a technical art which makes the vessels or ornaments decorative by lacquering.

Its main materials are the exudation of the lacquer tree and processed shells.

The art of lacquering has a long history.

The lacquered vessels discovered in the tombs in Rangnang regions in Pyongyang Municipality, the mausoleum of King Kogukwon in South Hwanghae Province and other ancient tombs show that lacquer wares were made in our country from long ago.

In the periods of Koryo Dynasty and the feudal Joson dynasty, in particular, the lacquered craftwork inlaid with mother of pearl which decorates the objects with thin processed shells.

The lacquerwares inlaid with mother of pearl which were discovered in tombs built in the period of Koryo show the characteristics and development of the lacquered craftwork inlaid with mother of pearl of those times.

The art of lacquering needs the veteran skills and peculiar techniques for decoration and methods for processing.

The lacquerwares which are developing as required by the times are now popular in our people’s life, for their hardness and gloss.

Rodong Sinmun