Background to Myanmar Lacquerware

Myanmar Lacquerware

The art of lacquerware includes as one of the Myanmar traditional handicrafts and had been known to exist since the Bagan period (11th – 13th A. D.). It is one of the works for living and the art had been handed down from father to son in the family. Preserving and up keeping the traditional work new innovations are also added according to the times. That is why the work of lacquerware had developed within the country as well as became well known abroad.

In Myanmar, Bagan is not only one of the cultural heritage sites where many historical monuments exist in one area but also it is one of the major sites where lacquerware industry prospered. Tourists not only come to study the art and architecture of historical monuments but also buy lacquerware as esteemed souvenirs. The lacquerware technique starts with a wickerwork of woven, finely cut strips of bamboo, horse hair, wood, essential material, mixture of lacquer resin with clay, wood sawdust and ash are carefully built-up and finally polished with the ash of fossil wood. The designs are then elaborately etched or painted by hand. Myanmar traditional lacquerware drawing styles derived from several Jataka stories of Buddha.

Our Myanmar traditional lacquerware is one of the ten different flowery arts and crafts of Golden Land, it is the constant source of fame and Bagan is the lacquerware heart-land of Myanmar. A visit to our land of great charms and amazing art and crafts is not complete without observation of our traditional lacquer technique.