European lacquer art

The Portuguese and the Spaniards, as well as English and Dutch trading companies, imported Chinese and Japanese lacquerware to Europe in the mid-16th century. The lacquered objects quickly became coveted luxury items and provided the crucial impetus for European lacquer art. Since the raw lacquer from East Asia hardens in conditions of high humidity, the Europeans were not able to import the material by sea. As a result, they developed their own lacquer formulas based on oils, resins and binders. East Asian motifs predominated until the end of the 17th century. Foreign plants and animals as well as scenes from court or daily life were most frequently painted on furniture, chests and boxes. In the 18th century, the pictorial representations moved away from the strict imitation of East Asian models. Artists began to invent their own subjects and represent typically European, mythological and chivalrous themes.