How do you identify Russian lacquer boxes?
Look for the telltale “grid-pattern” on the bottom or sides that sometimes shows on an argillite box. This is the track of the machine that forms or presses the sawdust used to make these fakes! Also, examine with a magnifying glass to identify “cutouts”, and the many tiny “dots” that might make up a photo decoupage.
What is russian lacquer box?
Russian Lacquer Boxes are made from an art form known as Papier-Mache, a type of cardboard that is made from layers of glued paper boiled in linseed oil and then carefully dried and primed. Please visit our Fedoskino and Palekh pages to see our complete collection of beautiful Russian Lacquer Boxes.
What are Russian lacquer boxes called?
Lacquer Boxes Fedoskino Palekh Mstera Kholui.
Where are Russian lacquer boxes made?
Fedoskino
Historically, workshops in the villages of Fedoskino, Palekh, Kholui, and Mstera have been the primary producers of Russian lacquer boxes. Each village is known for its distinctly recognizable style, although thematic considerations greatly vary.
What are lacquer boxes used for?
Jewelry boxes are often made out of lacquered wood. Lacquer is widely used to preserve wood and to enhance its appeal, and many different types of lacquer boxes are produced throughout the world.
How do you restore a lacquer box?
Restore the appearance of lacquer pieces that have been damaged by exposure to light by polishing them with carnauba wax. Apply the wax with a soft cloth and polish it lightly with another clean cloth or a lambswool buffer. Use wax only to restore damaged pieces; avoid using it on pieces in good condition.
What is a Palekh box?
Palekh Lacquer Boxes Painted with bright colors and underlayment of gold and silver distinguished these artists, representing many of the iconic styles of earlier paintings. Our journey took us to the village of PALEKH, which is probably the most recognizable name in Russian Lacquer Boxes.
Is lacquer Chinese or Japanese?
Lacquerware (漆器, shikki) is a Japanese craft with a wide range of fine and decorative arts, as lacquer has been used in urushi-e, prints, and on a wide variety of objects from Buddha statues to bento boxes for food.
Can lacquer be restored?
Lacquer can be a very forgiving finish material, and if you understand its characteristics, repairing damage to a lacquered surface can be easy. Lacquer is basically cellulose dissolved in a solvent. A lacquer surface coating hardens when the solvent evaporates, and applying more solvent will soften it again.
What causes lacquer to deteriorate?
Lacquer can be damaged by age, light, water, temperature, or damaged substrate. Conservation treatments include dry cleaning, wet cleaning, consolidation and filling losses.
How do you clean old lacquer boxes?
Spray a small amount of solvent-based furniture cleaner on a dry rag and wipe the lacquer gently, starting with a small section. Wipe this away immediately with a damp cloth and then dry the area with a dry cloth. Repeat this process, working in manageable sections, until the lacquer is clean.
Why is lacquer popular?
Lacquer can be used to cover, protect & decorate almost any type of surface, uneven or otherwise. As the lacquer is very thin when applied it requires many coats to provide an even finish, but an advantage is that the lacquer can be used to cover almost any type of surface, uneven or otherwise.
What lacquer means?
British Dictionary definitions for lacquer lacquer. / (ˈlækə) / noun. a hard glossy coating made by dissolving cellulose derivatives or natural resins in a volatile solvent. a black resinous substance, obtained from certain trees, used to give a hard glossy finish to wooden furniture.
Can you repair lacquer?
Lacquer finishes can often be repaired with the application of the right solvent. Standing next to shellac as the easiest wood finish to repair is lacquer. Its properties allow it to be softened by the reintroduction of a solvent, and, as the solvent evaporates, the lacquer hardens to a new finish on the work piece.
What is lacquer made from?
It is a liquid made of shellac dissolved in alcohol that dries to form a very hard, smooth, protective coating on surfaces like wood and metal. Originally made from the sap of a particular tree, it can also be made of synthetic substances.
Why is my lacquer cracking?
In my experience, the cause is most often from temperature changes as the lacquer expands and contracts. If this piece was sitting under a window or near a heat duct/radiator, then you’ve got heating and cooling cycle swings.