Asian Lacquer: Masterpieces from the Florence and Herbert Irving Collection, Denise Patry Leidy, lecturer April 30, 2008

Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Denise Patry Leidy, Curator, Department of Asian Art

Lacquer has been used as an artistic medium in Asia for centuries. Derived from the resin of the lac tree, it is often combined with colorants and used as paint, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and other precious substances, covered with sprinkled gold, and carved into intricate and engaging designs. In China, Korea, and Japan, lacquer enhances tables and boxes for writing, vessels for storing and serving beverages, and containers for cosmetics, incense, and other luxuries. In this insightful lecture, explore the many ways in which regional tastes and interests transformed the art of lacquer and fostered the creation of works of great variety and beauty.

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