Craft

Width:35.4 x Height:3.2 x Diameter:35.4 (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 round plate features a flared rim and shallow sloping walls. A plum tree stretches diagonally across the interior, from the lower right to the upper left. Its branches are dotted with blossoms—some fully bloomed, others still in bud. A magpie perches on the tip of a branch, lowering its head toward the blooming flowers, while lush green bamboo leaves provide a backdrop behind the tree. The entire surface is coated in black lacquer. Over the black lacquered interior, tin powder is sprinkled, followed by a layer of transparent lacquer. The surface is then polished and buffed to reveal a brilliant golden luster at the base. The decorative design is then painted, followed by additional layers of lacquer, polishing, and buffing. The bamboo leaves, painted in a single layer, appear flat, while the flowers, bird, and tree—painted in two layers—are rendered with a raised, three-dimensional effect. The magpie’s plumage is further enhanced with silver powder and black lacquer powder applied according to the design, adding a refined sheen that lends the composition an elegant and composed presence.

Accession number:20170300204