Message #51485

[forestman]

Dear Joey,

My assumption would be that the maximum of 36 layers related to any lacquer, like cinnabar, that needed to be applied thick enough to then carve as any flat lacquered items would have less than the 36 layers.

I should have added to the previous post in saying any law could be revoked and items made since the Yongle reign have had more than 36 layers, some far more.

I think it was a question of time, not from an expense point of view, in that each layer took a day or more to set so an item with 200 layers would take a year or so before it was even carved. You may have forgotten why you were making it by then 

Having to find a way to put each layer on thicker gave an option to produce faster. What I haven't found as yet is anything that relates to whether making "bastardised" lacquer that could be applied thicker had any effect on the quality of how it carved. If it was felt to be inferior for important items then the older purer lacquered coats would likely have been used.

I agree with you and Giovanni about age and quality. Even if there were harder times or times when general quality slipped in certain periods there would always be craftsmen who wouldn't let their own standards slip.

Happy Hanuka.

Regards, Adrian.