Craft
Width:15.1 x Height:1.9 x Diameter:15.1 (cm)
高:1.9,直徑(口):15.1cm
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 circular plate features a flat rim and straight sides. The center of the interior base is slightly raised, forming a small circular platform. The exterior base is coated with black lacquer, with a square cartouche in red lacquer at the center bearing the inscription “Chen Huo-Ching” in regular script. The interior wall, exterior wall, and plate center are finished with hsi-p’i (rhinoceros-skin lacquer), which creates a richly textured and colorful surface. The process began with using a tool made from bundled rice straw stems dipped in lacquer paste, which was swept across the lacquered surface to create a textured relief. Layers of black, yellow, and red lacquer were then applied to build up the surface. The final surface was polished to reveal an interplay of overlapping colors. Unlike most hsi-p’i lacquer works, which are typically polished to a smooth finish, this piece retains its textured relief, lending it a distinctive, rustic character.
Accession number:20170300199