Chen Mingzong, the founder of Sunrise Lacquer Art, won numerous international and local awards for his lacquer art creations. He is well recognised in the Taiwanese lacquer art community of his persistence in preserving traditional lacquerware making techniques and using natural materials.
Chen's art is most recognizable for his unique nodular or fluid patterns. They are made by applying successive layers of different colors and using mother of pearl, gold, silver, and minerals on the base of a raised moulded lacquer. In a rather repetitive process, they are polished flat, mostly by hand to reveal the patterns.
Traditional lacquerware is coated with treated sap extracted from Chinese lacquer trees (Rhus vernicifera) that dries to a very hard and smooth surface layer that is durable, waterproof and looks attractive.
The lacquer sheath can withstand acid, alkali, alcohol and high temperature.
Lacquer Chopsticks "Moon-shadow" by CHEN Mingzong - Gold Leaf
Lacquer craft in China has a long history. The oldest lacquerware discovered dates back to the Warring States period (403-221 B.C.). the craft has been transferred to Japan, Korea, and other parts of Southeast Asia. The value of a piece of lacquerware only begins with the materials used to make it. A high quality piece of lacquerware requires the skills of several different elements: lacquer, layers, core materials, decoration, colours, design and process.
