Chinese calligraphy necklace, zelkova wood pendant, handmade necklace with natural Chinese lacquer

Handmade necklace with natural Chinese lacquer. Traditional craftsmanship made with love.

Materials: 

• Pendant Base: zelkova wood
• Surface coating: Natural lacquer
• Necklace chain material: Gold-plated 925 silver

Measurements:

• Pendant diameter 1 x 6cm
• Necklace circumference 45cm 

Please allow up to 30 days for crafting and shipping, as the pendant is 100% handmade by the artisan. Each necklace takes at least 3 months to make.

Embrace this fusion of nature and poetry, a statement piece that carries the essence of traditional calligraphy in a modern form. This wearable art features an ivory-hued pendant that serves as a canvas for black calligraphic strokes, capturing the elegant simplicity of bamboo. Suspended from a sleek silver chain, the pendant hangs gracefully, its design a tribute to the timeless beauty of ink wash painting.

This pendant is perfect as an accessory for hanfu attire.

The Chinese lacquerware technique:

The "大漆" (dà qī) technique, also known as "Chinese lacquer," is a traditional artistic practice deeply rooted in Chinese culture. It involves the meticulous application of sap extracted from the lacquer tree, known for its durability and glossy finish. Dating back thousands of years, this technique has been employed to create exquisite objects ranging from furniture and utensils to decorative items and artworks.

Artisans skilled in the "大漆" technique carefully layer the lacquer onto various base surfaces, often wood, bamboo, or metal, to produce stunning visual effects. The process typically involves several stages of coating, drying, and polishing, sometimes interspersed with intricate designs or inlaid materials like mother-of-pearl, gold leaf, or colored pigments.

China Lacquer, the resin of a family of trees found throughout southern China—as well as in Southeast Asia, Korea, and Japan—is an amazing material. When exposed to oxygen and humidity, lacquer hardens or polymerizes, becoming a natural plastic and an ideal protective covering for screens, trays, and other implements. It can keep for thousands of years.

Since ancient times, natural or raw earth lacquer from the Sumac Tree has been used as medicine. It is a "pure natural" product. The lacquer collection methods and process are extremely complex, collectors have to cut the mountain barks carefully in the middle of night and change the shell clam (which is used to collect the lacquer) every few seconds. Natural Lacquer is extremely expensive — A single lacquer tree can only cut 10 kg of raw lacquer in its life cycle; 3000 lacquer trees can only collect 1 kg of lacquer!

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, "大漆" holds profound cultural significance in Chinese tradition. It symbolizes resilience, as the lacquer itself is derived from a tree that thrives despite harsh conditions. Additionally, the meticulous craftsmanship required embodies the virtues of patience, precision, and reverence for nature—a reflection of traditional Chinese values.