Laifeng lacquer chopstick making technique

Hubei
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Laifeng lacquer chopsticks are a specialty of Laifeng County, Hubei Province, and a national geographical indication product of China. The production process of Laifeng lacquer chopsticks inherits the cultural tradition of national lacquerware. It uses high-quality wood or bamboo, combined with local Laifeng golden tung oil, Lichuanba lacquer and shells as composite covering materials, and is made through multiple processes. Its appearance is smooth and crystal clear, colorful, with prominent patterns, simple and elegant. At the same time, it is anti-corrosive, acid-resistant, alkali-resistant, high-temperature-resistant, oxidation-resistant, pollution-free, and has health-preserving and anti-aging effects; the product is both tableware and a handicraft, integrating practicality and collection. On May 30, 2008, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine approved the implementation of geographical indication product protection for "Laifeng lacquer chopsticks". In 2011, the Laifeng lacquer chopsticks craftsmanship was rated as a "provincial intangible cultural heritage". In 2013, the "Laifeng lacquer chopsticks making craftsmanship" was included in the fourth batch of national intangible cultural heritage application list. Laifeng lacquer chopsticks are made with exquisite craftsmanship. The materials used are high-quality bamboo or precious woods such as camphor, nanmu, beech, sandalwood, pear, boxwood, walnut, cherry, loquat, etc. The paint uses the local specialty and nationally famous "golden tung oil" and "Lichuanba lacquer", and then inlaid with Youshui shells and pearl powder. They are processed through nearly 100 processes. Laifeng lacquer chopsticks inherit the cultural tradition of national lacquerware. They use raw lacquer and freshwater shells as composite covers. After repeated painting and multiple polishing, they present a colorful and smooth effect. They are simple and elegant, full of national characteristics and regional style. There are more than 100 process steps for Laifeng lacquer chopsticks. The chopstick embryos are mostly made of bamboo, iron wood, boxwood, sandalwood, etc. After the chopstick embryos are polished, the primer is applied. Then, freshwater shells from Youshui River are pasted on the surface of the chopsticks. After the paint is dried in the shade, the color paint is repeatedly applied dozens of times to make the color of the paint soak into the shells, and rough grinding is used to produce a colorful effect. Then, the painting and fine grinding are repeated dozens of times, and then the surface of the lacquer chopsticks is carved, polished, waxed, etc. It takes more than two months from the primer to the completion of the lacquer chopsticks.

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