Handmade verdant lacquer earrings, handmade with natural Chinese lacquer, freshwater pearls, made-to-order

Elevate your style with these exquisite handmade earrings, crafted using the traditional Chinese lacquerware technique. Made with high-quality lacquer, color detailing, and freshwater pearls, these earrings are designed to last and retain their beauty over time.

Materials: 

• Earring bead base:  sandalwood
• Freshwater pearls
• Surface coating: Natural Chinese lacquer
• Earring post: Gold-plated 925 silver

Measurements:

• Bead diameter: around 1.2cm (0.47 inch)
• Earring total length: around 4.5cm (1.78 inches)

Please allow up to 30 days for crafting and shipping, as the earrings are 100% handmade by the artisan. Each piece could vary slightly. 

Care instruction:

1. Do not exert too much force when handling.
2. If there is dust or dirt, use a soft cloth or a soft brush to clean it gently.
3. For pure lacquerware, any cleaner can be used for daily cleaning, but avoid soaking for a long time.
4. Lacquerware should be kept away from strong sunlight and stored in a shaded place for daily maintenance.
5. When polishing lacquerware, pay special attention to avoid contact and friction with hard and sharp objects.

Feel free to watch how a lacquer bead is made here!

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.