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Wang Xiao Fei, a sparkling master lacquerer
Wang Xiao Fei has been a master lacquerer for the past 20 years. At the head of a team of several dozen people, this 40 year old Beijing local explains the different stages of this millennial traditional art.
"Look at this butterfly, it looks alive." For Wang Xiao Fei, a quality lacquer can be recognized by the fineness of detail and the quality of varnish. This 40 year old Beijing local started off in a factory before opening her own shop and studio in east Beijing. She has been a master lacquerer for the past 20 years. This traditional art has a history that dates back as far as the Neolithic.Not everyone can become a lacquerer. Even before starting, it is essential to check that you are not "allergic" to the raw material. "The shellac is the resinous sap that is extracted from the sumac tree by cutting into the trunk. It is a white substance and toxic," says Wang Xiao Fei who heads a team of thirty people. She shows off her toolkit composed of small handcrafted knives with shafts wrapped in raffia and other accessories that seem abstruse.
The sumac's sap is very adhesive and, when it dries, it forms a solid surface that can withstand pretty much any weather. The lacquer can cover many surfaces such as bamboo, metal, wood, leather or clay. It is then mixed with copper oil (tongyou), iron sulfate or rice vinegar. That's when you can start applying the lacquer. "The first step is to coat multiple layers of silk or ramie, a textile plant of nettle family".
Between two layers, we proceeded to applying the colored lacquer coating, usually red or black in China. The shades that can be achieved by adding a variety lacquering ingredients like vermilion or titanium, calling for the skills of a silversmith. "For a millimeter of thickness, you have to apply 20 layers of varnish. The more you put on the shinier it will be. This work may take up to several months," she says.
Teamwork
The item is then stripped very delicately. "First we use pumice and charcoal, we then move on to hair and strass, and then we finish off with our fingers," says the artisan. A perfect uniformity is essential to ensure the brightness of the object. The piece will then be placed in a hot and humid environment for several weeks, depending on the season, and in some cases even in an oven, but whose temperature will not exceed 60° Celsius. She warns that "If the temperature is too high, the lacquer blackens; making summer the best season because we can dry the lacquered items in the sun."
The items are manually decorated with a special knife and appear orange on the surface and a deep red below. A thin metal rod will then be used to dig and remove unnecessary pieces while respecting the contours of the drawings. In some cases a magnifying glass is very useful. "To achieve this square of a few millimeters, it took at least 38 knives strokes and no less than five months," she says showing the refined cover of a jewelry box.
In her warehouse-workshop, Wang Xiao Fei offers different types of Chinese lacquer including the most famous, the mother of pearl-encrusted lacquer, but also luxurious gifts for officials. Objects range from a few euros and may exceed 10,000 euros, such as a giant vase-shaped gourd placed on the corner of a window which took nearly a year of work and many pairs of hands. "This business is a real challenge. It is like no other. It is cooperation and true teamwork," she concludes.
Practical Information:
Workshop-store Wang Xiao Fei: Open daily from 9AM to 5PM. Room 219, # 12B, Guangming Road, Chongwen District. 崇文区光明路乙12号219室. Tel: 010.67.16.01.31. Website: www.qiqi365.com.cn
Text: Aurélie Palancher
Photos: Wang Zhuo
May 2008
