Research and Conservation of Ancient Lacquer

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 1435

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Interests: conservation of lacquer

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Guest Editor
Capital Museum, Beijing, China
Interests: restoration and scientific analysis of lacquerware

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Guest Editor
Conservation Department, The Palace Museum, Beijing, China
Interests: restoration and scientific analysis of lacquerware

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lacquer is a natural coating with a history of over 8,000 years, but the traditional craftsmanship of lacquerware is on the verge of disappearing. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the ancient techniques used in lacquerware production and to effectively conserve them for future generations, many laboratories have embarked on research analyzing and conserving ancient lacquerware. In this context, this Special Issue aims to present the latest developments in this field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the scientific analysis of unearthed and inherited lacquerware, the restoration of lacquerware crafting techniques, the softening of lacquer films, and the dehydration and shaping of lacquer wood items.

Dr. Xing Zhao
Dr. Qiuju He
Dr. Na Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • ancient lacquer
  • traditional craft
  • scientific research
  • conservation
  • restoration

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 11973 KiB  
Article
The Lacquer Craft of the Corridor Coffin (徼道棺) from Tomb No. 2 of Tushan in Eastern Han Dynasty, Xuzhou
by Zongmin Li, Xiaojun Li, Jinyong Yu, Yihua Sun, Jianjun Geng and Xing Zhao
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091222 - 22 Sep 2024
Viewed by 794
Abstract
Tomb No. 2 of Tushan in Xuzhou is the tomb of King Chu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it was an important archaeological discovery in China. The unique placement and crafting techniques of a lacquer coffin that was unearthed from the burial [...] Read more.
Tomb No. 2 of Tushan in Xuzhou is the tomb of King Chu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it was an important archaeological discovery in China. The unique placement and crafting techniques of a lacquer coffin that was unearthed from the burial corridor are of significant importance in the study of tombs. In order to characterise the sample’s microstructure, elemental composition, and structural composition, as well as to study the crafting techniques of the coffin in the corridor, a range of analytical techniques were employed, including ultra-depth microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and XRD. The results indicate that the cross-sectional structure of the fragments comprises a pigment layer and a lacquer ash layer, with the latter being further divided into tile ash and bone ash layers. No lacquer film layer was observed. The primary colouring agent in the pigment layer was HgS, which contained a minor quantity of organic binder. The primary component of the tile ash layer was quartz, while the osseous ash layer comprised particles and collagen derived from mammalian bones. The lacquer crafting technique employed in the construction of the coffin was relatively simple and inconsistent with the assumption of it having a noble status. The findings of this research offer experimental data for the identification, preservation, and technical restoration of the corridor coffin in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Conservation of Ancient Lacquer)
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