Lacquer

Lacquer is a highly regarded art form and has been used in China since the Shang Dynasty (1600 B.C. - 1100 B.C.). The term 'lacquer' refers to the name of the substance as well as the technique. True organic lacquer, (used by McGuire), is made of translucent sap collected from trees indigenous to East Asia. After the trees are tapped, sap is boiled and strained to remove impurities and to prepare it for use as a coating. Various substances, often closely guarded 'recipes', are added to the lacquer as colorants. Once prepared, the lacquer is applied in thin layers multiple times, waiting for each layer to cure for at least 24 hours before the next layer is applied. McGuire lacquer pieces are made using 60 to 100 coats of lacquer, applied over a wood or copper base. They can then be polished smooth or even carved.