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Lacquerware: Mexican Folk Art, Michoacan, Guerrero, Chiapas, Techniques And Decorations
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Published: November 30, 2007
One of the most prominent items in the world of Mexican folk art is lacquerware. The term lacquerware is used to identify the type of crafts characterized by the application of the shiny coating called lacquer. Available in both clear and colored variants, the lacquer is dried through a solvent evaporation process.
It provides a durable finish that can give any object its desired glossy exterior. The lacquer functions both as a means of protection and a way of decorating. The different forms of lacquerware include boxes, bowls, coffins, gourds, and plates.
Some of the most common lacquerware decorations are floral prints, leaf designs, human images, and animal pictures. Like the other forms of Mexican folk art, the decorations of lacquerware are used to symbolize the customs, norms, lore, philosophies, beliefs, and traditions of the ancient Mexicans. There are three simple techniques used in the application of decorations in lacquerware: the inlaid method of Michoacan, the carved method of Guerrero, and the painted method of Chiapas and Guerrero.
The inlaid method, which is called embutido in Mexico, is often used by the Michoacan people. The first step in the inlaid method of creating lacquerware involves the laying down of the chosen design. After that, the Michoacan people starts cutting the different parts of patterns to be used and continue with the applying of different colors to the other parts. The most common pigments used in the coloration of the lacquerware are pink, green, yellow, and blue.
The second type of method that is used in the creation of Mexican lacquerware is called the carved method. The carved method, which is called rayado in Mexico, is commonly used by the inhabitants of the region of Guerrero. In the carved method, the lacquerware is first applied with a base coat. Following the application of the base coat is the painting of different layers with contrasting colors. After the application of colors, the different layers of paint are allowed to dry. When the paint is finally dry, the upper layer is then cut to expose the other colors from the lower layers to achieve the creator's desired patterns or decorations.
The last type of the three techniques used in decorating lacquerware is the painted method. The painted method, which also goes by the names of aplicado and dorado, are usually used by the people of Chiapas and Guerrero. This is considered as the easiest and simplest among the three techniques. In this method, the surface of the lacquer is simply painted with the desired patterns or designs using different oil pigments.
The creation of lacquerware is truly a great addition to the rich collection of Mexican folk art pieces. It is not only used as a decorative piece that adds color and style to different homes but it is also considered as a representation of the lifestyle and traditions of the ancient Mexican people.
Sources:
McMenamin, Donna. "Mexican Pottery." Donna McMednamin.com. 27 Nov. 2007. http://www.donnamcmenamin.com/Pages/Books/General/ WestCoastPeddlerPgTwo.html.
"Mexican Lacquerware, Basketry and Glass." Milagros. 27 Nov. 2007. http://www.milagros.co.uk/mexican-lacqerware-baske try-glass.html.
"Lacquerware." Wikipedia, the Free Encylcopedia. 7 Nov. 2007. 27 Nov. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquerware#Manufactu re_and_design.
Some of the most common lacquerware decorations are floral prints, leaf designs, human images, and animal pictures. Like the other forms of Mexican folk art, the decorations of lacquerware are used to symbolize the customs, norms, lore, philosophies, beliefs, and traditions of the ancient Mexicans. There are three simple techniques used in the application of decorations in lacquerware: the inlaid method of Michoacan, the carved method of Guerrero, and the painted method of Chiapas and Guerrero.
The inlaid method, which is called embutido in Mexico, is often used by the Michoacan people. The first step in the inlaid method of creating lacquerware involves the laying down of the chosen design. After that, the Michoacan people starts cutting the different parts of patterns to be used and continue with the applying of different colors to the other parts. The most common pigments used in the coloration of the lacquerware are pink, green, yellow, and blue.
The second type of method that is used in the creation of Mexican lacquerware is called the carved method. The carved method, which is called rayado in Mexico, is commonly used by the inhabitants of the region of Guerrero. In the carved method, the lacquerware is first applied with a base coat. Following the application of the base coat is the painting of different layers with contrasting colors. After the application of colors, the different layers of paint are allowed to dry. When the paint is finally dry, the upper layer is then cut to expose the other colors from the lower layers to achieve the creator's desired patterns or decorations.
The last type of the three techniques used in decorating lacquerware is the painted method. The painted method, which also goes by the names of aplicado and dorado, are usually used by the people of Chiapas and Guerrero. This is considered as the easiest and simplest among the three techniques. In this method, the surface of the lacquer is simply painted with the desired patterns or designs using different oil pigments.
The creation of lacquerware is truly a great addition to the rich collection of Mexican folk art pieces. It is not only used as a decorative piece that adds color and style to different homes but it is also considered as a representation of the lifestyle and traditions of the ancient Mexican people.
Sources:
McMenamin, Donna. "Mexican Pottery." Donna McMednamin.com. 27 Nov. 2007. http://www.donnamcmenamin.com/Pages/Books/General/ WestCoastPeddlerPgTwo.html.
"Mexican Lacquerware, Basketry and Glass." Milagros. 27 Nov. 2007. http://www.milagros.co.uk/mexican-lacqerware-baske try-glass.html.
"Lacquerware." Wikipedia, the Free Encylcopedia. 7 Nov. 2007. 27 Nov. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacquerware#Manufactu re_and_design.
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