Definition of lacquer

The word "lacquer" originated from the French word "lacque" which translates to "lake" in English. This name derived from the Sanskrit word "laksha," meaning "eye" or "coloring matter." In ancient India, a sap-like substance was extracted from certain trees, specifically the lac tree (Rhus verniciflua) and boiled to obtain a red-colored dye. This dye was called "laksha" and was used widely as a cosmetic and for dyeing purposes. In the 7th and 8th centuries, Buddhist monks traveling from India to Southeast Asia introduced the red lake to the region, where it was further developed into a lacquer. The process involved collecting the sap from the lac tree, placing it in a fermentation tank and then applying it to objects to be coated, layer by layer. The Southeast Asian artisans perfected this process to produce elaborate lacquerware used for decorative and functional purposes. The French, who encountered the lacquered objects during their colonization of Southeast Asia in the 19th century, became enamored with this unique process and brought it back to their country. From there, the French developed their own lacquer-making techniques, which is where the word "lacquer" began to be associated solely with this coating process, instead of more broadly with any dyeing substance. Today, the world "lacquer" refers exclusively to this technique of applying a shiny, durable coating to a surface, usually made from tree sap, shellac, or synthetic materials.