Sơn Mài
The use of lacquer in Asia stretches back thousands of years to ancient China and Japan, but Vietnam also developed its own unique branch of the art called sơn mài. Initially used as a protective material for everyday items like furniture, religious artifacts, and even architecture, it gradually transitioned from a primarily functional practice to an artistic one. During the Lý and Trần Dynasties, between the 11th and 14th centuries, the use of sơn mài was widespread in decorative arts and Buddhist sculpture. By the time the Lê and Nguyễn Dynasties took over in the 15th-19th centuries, techniques had become more sophisticated, and craftsmen layered the lacquer with precious materials like gold and silver (often called silver gilting).
Sơn Mài is an ancient Vietnamese lacquering technique that uses a natural resin, renowned worldwide for its incomparable shine and transparency, which comes from a tree endemic to northern Vietnam: Rhus verniciflua. The unique feature of Sơn Mài is that it incorporates a multitude of materials into the dial base, such as pure silver or gold leaf, fragments of mother-of-pearl and even eggshells, creating mesmerising, almost three-dimensional visual effects. Natural pigments created from organic materials are then applied in a light veil, giving each dial its own personality. A dozen layers of pure lacquer are then applied, dried, sanded and polished one by one to cover and protect the whole in an invisible case of almost infinite depth. This meticulous and patient work requires immense skill and years of expertise to create living, vibrant dials with an organic appearance.
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2025-12-12 15:00:00