Craft

Width:19.9 x Height:19.9 x Diameter:19.8 (cm)

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 vase features a small rounded mouth, gently sloping shoulders, and a rounded body that tapers downward to the base. The form was created using the jia-zhu (lacquerware with ramie cloth) technique, in which a clay core was wrapped in multiple layers of fabric and lacquered. Once the clay core was removed, the vessel was further decorated. The interior is coated with black lacquer. On the exterior, successive layers of black, white, and red lacquer were applied. The surface was then polished, wiped, and burnished to reveal a dense combination of horizontal and irregular vertical striations. This process creates a vibrant interplay of colors and an engaging visual texture of intersecting lines.

Accession number:20170300195