Xiamen Lacquer Filigree Technique

Xiamen lacquer filigree has been passed down for over 300 years through thirteen generations of the Cai family. This craft originated from ancient Buddhist figure sculpture, taking shape during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and maturing by the late Qing. Traditional lacquer filigree involves four steps: sculpting the base, applying a clay foundation, decorating with lacquer filigree, and gilding with gold or colors. The most distinctive part is making the lacquer thread: aged brick powder, raw lacquer, and boiled tung oil are pounded repeatedly into a soft yet tough filigree clay, which is then hand-rolled into threads as fine as a human hair. Using these threads, artisans coil, knot, wrap, and pile them onto the base to create raised patterns. Handwork is the soul of lacquer filigree. The lines can be as fine as a hair’s breadth, and every detail is executed with great precision.