Characterization Of Early Imperial Lacquerware From The Luozhuang Han Tomb, China

Abstract

This paper focuses on the characterization of materials from fragmented pieces of an imperial lacquer plate in the Luozhuang Han tomb, which dates to the early Western Han dynasty. Various non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques were performed, including optical and electron microscopy, XRF, Raman spectromicroscopy, FT-IR, XRD and THM-Py-GC/MS. The lacquerware pieces consist of a five-layer structure, which includes (from the top): a red pigmented layer, two lacquer finish layers, a ground layer and a canvas/wood foundation layer. The red layer consists of ground cinnabar mixed with urushi. The lacquer finish layers are made of urushi mixed with perilla or tallow tree oil, without any pigment. The ground layer is a mixture of organic materials including urushi, tree oil and amorphous carbon *

The search for organic compounds with TMAH thermochemolysis: From Earth analyses to space exploration experiments

“…TMAH thermochemolysis is mainly the methylation of hydroxides of phenolic compounds, alcohols, saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids, etc. [227,228]. Fig.…”

Pigments — Mercury-based red (cinnabar-vermilion) and white (calomel) and their degradation products

“…The lacquer is a natural resin chiefly composed of catechol derivatives that "polymerizes by the oxidation of urushiol with catalysts of laccase during the drying process" (Ma et al 2017). The composition of the lacquers varies according to the tree from which the sap is extracted, and, on this basis, it is possible to draw meaningful geographical distinctions:…”

“…In China, the oldest examples date back to the Chinese Neolithic age; however, the authors disagree on which is the oldest lacquered object found so far. Based on Ma et al (2017), the oldest example is represented by a black lacquered bowl dated to 8000 years BP, found at Kuahuqiao (Xiaoshan, Zhejiang). Based on Li et al (2009) and Wang et al (2018), the oldest example is represented by the cinnabar-containing lacquer-painted wood bowl found at the Hemudu site (Yu-yao, Zhejiang) and dated to more than 7000 years BP.…”

“…In the wood-based lacquer painting screen discovered in the Northern tomb of Si-ma Jin-long(Shi-jia-zhai village, Datong, Shanxi),Li et al (2009) identified cinnabar along with numerous other pigments such as gypsum, carbon black, orpiment and realgar. & In the imperial lacquer plate (202 BC-8 AD) found in the Luozhuang Han tomb (Zhangqiu, Shandong),Ma et al (2017) demonstrated that the first ground layer (over the hemp canvas) is made of organic materials (urushi, tree oil, amorphous carbon, quartz, albite and K-feldspar). The lacquer layers are made of urushi and perilla or tallow tree oil.…”

The chromosome-level genome for Toxicodendron vernicifluum provides crucial insights into Anacardiaceae evolution and urushiol biosynthesis

“…The lacquer tree is native to China and the Indian subcontinent, and it has been farmed for thousands of years in East Asian nations, such as Korea and Japan ( Fu et al., 2007 ; Nie et al., 2009 ). Historically, raw lacquer was traditionally produced of lacquerwares that were used as tableware and sacrificial utensils in Asian cultures ( Li et al., 2016 ; Ma et al., 2015 ). Currently, Chinese raw lacquer manufacturing accounts for 85% of the global total output value, and plentiful lacquer tree germplasm resources were available in China, such as “Dahongpao”, “Gaobachi”, “Huangmao Guizhou”, and “Hongmao Guizhou” etc .…”