Page 24 - Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles (February 2020)

S T Y L E

NEWS

EDUCATED EYE
LUXURIOUS

LACQUER ORIGINS

Sanskrit tablets reveal that the technique of
lacquering was created 3,500 years ago in India.
From there, it spread to Asia where the technique

was refi ned on a myriad of products ranging from

Ancient cultures refi ned the technique of lacquering, but furniture to trays to screens to boxes to jewelry.
The process was adapted in France, Spain, the
today’s homes continue to value the high-gloss fi nish for
Netherlands and England where it was frequently
its powerful punch of color, drama and durability
referred to as “japanning ”due to the process of
imitating the Asian application.
Written by SUZANNA CULLEN HAMILTON
The process of lacquering is enormously
detailed and time consuming. It involves applying
layer upon layer of extremely thin shellac that is

very gently sanded between layers so that the end
result is a fi nish that is many layers thick, but as

top White lacquered smooth as a glass plate.
walls add glamour

to a dining room by
Suzanne Kasler. left In
MODERN APPLICATIONS
a library by Cathy Aus-
tin, shimmering gray Today, lacquer is most frequently associated with
walls delight. opposite,
the process of painting ceilings, walls and cabi-
clockwise A red vanity
shines in a powder netry in layers of high-gloss enamel. Whether on
room by Barbara West- a kitchen island or the cabinets, lacquer is very SUZANNE KASLER AND HEATHER DEWBERRY BY EMILY FOLLOWILL; BARBARA WESTBROOK
brook. Black-lacquer AND BETH WEBB BY ERICA GEORGE DINES; CATHY AUSTIN BY GORDON BEALL
durable in the highly traffi cked area. Addition-
walls are a bold back-
drop in a dining room ally, the high-gloss fi nish provides exceptional
by Beth Webb. Heather
depth of color, so it’s popular in home libraries,
Dewberry echoed a
mountain home’s sur- offi ces, dens, wet bars, powder rooms and other
rounding woods with a
areas where signifi cant impact can be made with a
custom emerald green
lacquer fi nish. powerful punch of drama.

22 atlantahomesmag.com FEB.2020