Lacquer paintings inlaid with mother-of-pearl

This set of two paintings forms a harmonious decorative ensemble depicting scenes of the Vietnamese countryside: rice paddies, carts, chickens, and bamboo come alive under the iridescent sheen of mother-of-pearl. Each panel, equipped with a hanging system on the back, can be displayed individually or as a diptych. There are some minor losses of lacquer at the top and some micro-scratches, indicative of their age.

The art of lacquer in Vietnam (sơn mài) relies on a meticulous process. On a wooden support, the artisan successively applies several layers of lacquer, extracted from the sap of the lacquer tree. The backgrounds, in deep shades of burgundy and brown, are then enriched by the inlay of mother-of-pearl (khảm trai).

Mother-of-pearl is made from carefully selected seashells, washed, flattened, and then patiently polished. This work demands extreme precision: each fragment is cut by hand and then inserted into the lacquered surface to create the design. Finally, a transparent varnish covers the entire piece, sealing the mother-of-pearl while revealing its iridescent play of light.

This technique is known as lacquer burgautée (from the word Burgau , a seashell from the Eastern seas). It combines the depth of dark lacquer with the changing brilliance of mother-of-pearl, creating pictures that seem to come alive with the light.

Materials: wood, lacquer, carved mother-of-pearl

Height: 49 cm

Width of each piece: 19 cm

Thickness: 1.3 cm

Origin: North Vietnam