Craft

Length:35.6 x Width:32.1 x Height:8 (cm)

高:8,直徑(口):35.6,直徑(底):32.1,腹圍:116.6cm

Accession Number：20170300192

Chen Huo-Ching (1914-2001, Taichung) was a master of lacquer art in Taiwan. After graduating from Chingshui Public School, he apprenticed at the Yamaka Lacquerware Studio in Taichung, where he trained in traditional lacquer techniques. Upon completing his studies, he remained at the studio as an artisan and later taught part-time at the Taichung Craft Training Institute, which eventually became a specialized craft school. Following World War II, Chen worked for the Air Force, where he was responsible for aircraft painting. After leaving this position due to health issues and personal loss, he devoted himself fully to lacquerware creation at home. In the 1960s, a peak period for Taiwan’s lacquerware exports to Japan, Chen served as a technical consultant to lacquerware companies and founded his own firm to fulfill Japanese commissions. From 1984 onward, he contributed extensively to the education and promotion of lacquer art, serving as an instructor at the Taiwan Provincial Handicraft Research Institute and the National Palace Museum. His contributions to the industry were highly influential, and in 1998, he was recognized by the Ministry of Education as a Master of Important Folk Art.
This work is a deep circular plate with a flat base, featuring straight sides on the interior and a curved exterior wall. The interior is coated with black lacquer, while the exterior is finished with a red base overlaid with a black textile pattern. To achieve this effect, a coarse fabric was first applied to the exterior surface of the wooden form. Layers of black and red lacquer were then added, followed by a process of polishing, wiping, and finishing. Through this method, a richly textured, mottled textile pattern emerges on the surface of the plate.