Lacquering craft of Qing Dynasty lacquered wooden coffins excavated from Shanxi, China - A technical study

Three gilded samples collected from the ancient lacquered wooden coffins excavated in Yangqu County, Shanxi Province were analyzed by scientific techniques including digital microscopy, SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR and ICP-MS. Two kinds of lacquering craft, “painting in gold” and “painting lacquer above the gold” were discovered while “Jin Jiao” (considered as mixtion) is identified for joining the metal layer to the preparation layer. The craft “pasting the fabric to the wood by lacquer” was found, improving the wooden body's stability and mechanical strength. The results show that apart from the broken porcelain, ground shell was also added into the stucco in ground layer. The metal layer above the lacquer film is composed of gold-silver-copper alloy with different proportions. The coffins are suffering from severe degradation and effective conservation measures should be taken as soon as possible. Our study revealed the Chinese traditional lacquering and gilding techniques employed in wooden coffins, and provided support for scientific protection and restoration schemes.