Terra Nova Asian Furniture's Finishing Series: Learning About Lacquer

LEARNING ABOUT LACQUER

The term “lacquer” often appears in association with Asian furniture, but not many people know what it actually signifies. To most, it just means a glossy black-painted finish on a surface. But there is more to the term than that. When someone is considering purchasing something labeled “lacquer” it would help to know what they are looking at.

Specifically, the word “lacquer” comes from the Sanskrit word “laksha” which means “wax.”  In ancient India, the resinous secretion of the Lac insect was used as a wood finish. A similar finish is made from the resin of an indigenous tree in China that is called the “lacquer tree” or the “varnish tree.” In modern usage, shellac finishes are lac-based, while lacquer is made with polymers or acrylic compounds dissolved in lacquer thinners. When the thinner solvent evaporates, the residue compounds form a durable, hard finish. This beautiful finish can be resistant to abrasion and water, aspects that make it appealing on furniture.

Antique Asian Black Lacquer Cabinets at Terra Nova Asian Furniture Los Angeles

In China, many wooden objects would be covered in lacquer. The Chinese artisans often mixed powdered cinnabar into the lacquer to produce the notable red lacquerware. The black lacquer that used on lacquered Asian furniture is achieved by adding iron hydroxide to the mix. Because of the thickness of many lacquers, artisans developed a style of carving into many layers of lacquer. Others might inlay mother-of-pearl, or gold or silver leaf to accent the glossy lacquer finish.

Beautiful detail view of an antique lacquered coffee table at Terra Nova Asian Furniture

Lacquer finishes from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Taiwan tend to be softer than those from China and Japan. Their finishes are made from resins of the Thitsi tree and do not contain urushiol. Interestingly, Burmese lacquer (that is, that from Myanmar) tends to set more slowly than other lacquers, and is frequently applied by the artisan’s hands rather than using brushes.

In the 17^th century, as more Asian artifacts were brought to Europe, the glossy black lacquers attracted much notice. This finish was compared to black enamel paints that were already known to Europeans. The association of thick, glossy black varnishes with Asian origins led to the use of the terms “japanned” or “japanning” for pieces that featured such finishes, whether they actually had been produced in Asia or not.

Detailed view of the Antique Asian Black Lacquer Cabinets, available at Terra Nova Asian Furniture Los Angeles

A lacquer surface or finish can add great beauty and durability to a piece of furniture. Such items are well worth considering adding to the home environment.  Come by and see for yourself!  We are located at 2251 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 - or call us at (310) 478-0228.  For more information, visit our local Yelp site: http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-nova-designs-los-angeles-2

Terra Nova Asian Furniture's WOOD YOU KNOW Series: Bamboo

Many people prize Asian furniture made of bamboo for its lightweight strength, golden color, and the luminous beauty it brings to a room.  It appears to be lit from within and has a warm, honey colored glow.  However, did you know that bamboo is not a wood? The bamboo is one of the planet’s fastest growing plants, belonging to the grass family. A stand of bamboo can grow to maturity in five years or less. In certain conditions, a stalk of bamboo can grow 36 inches in one day. This quality makes it very appealing to those who are conscious of environmental issues and sustainability. Additionally, it is very versatile and adaptable to many uses.

The nature of the plant causes it to grow in a columnar fashion, rather than tapering from base to top. This creates a consistency of size that is very useful in furniture making, when the bamboo shaft is used for legs and support. The wood also has very high compressive and tensile strength, giving it a great deal of durability, while retaining a lighter weight than comparable materials would have.

The sectioned regularity of bamboo shafts makes it an appealing choice for design purposes. As you can see from the Asian bamboo nightstand, above, it easily invokes the sense of its natural growth, giving an added aesthetic impression to its use in furniture. However, inclusion of bamboo shafts is not the only means by which this wood can be used in furniture. Laminated bamboo has come to be used in many forms, from flooring to panels for cabinets, to complete pieces of furniture such as tables, chairs, and bedframes. A good piece of bamboo furniture can last many years.

If you decide to purchase bamboo furniture, search for pieces that are made from real bamboo, for there are less expensive bamboo look-alikes. If the piece states that it uses sustainable bamboo, that means that it was grown and harvested naturally, allowing for new growth after the harvesting. If you are ecology-minded, make sure that any bamboo veneers use nontoxic glue, and water-based stains. If the furniture was made in small villages, the artisans involved are likely to come from generations of bamboo-workers.

The Asian bamboo console table above, as well as many other unique console tables, can be found on our website, http://www.terranovadesigns.com/bamboo-console-table-if020.html.

Symbolically, in Asian cultures, bamboo can represent several favorable qualities. In Chinese culture, the plant’s long life makes it a symbol of an upright life. In India, it represents friendship. Because if its durability in harsh conditions, the Chinese also consider bamboo one of the “Three Friends of Winter,” along with pine and plumb blossom. Being aware of this background of meaning can give the owner of bamboo furniture an extra level of pleasure.  If you are looking for a beautiful piece of Asian bamboo furniture in Los Angeles, be sure to stop by our store, located at 

2251 S Sepulveda Blvd., 

Los Angeles, CA 90064 or give us a call at (310) 

478-0228.  Feel free to check out our local Yelp website for more information - and to read what our customers are saying about us! http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-nova-designs-los-angeles-2

Terra Nova Asian Furniture's WOOD YOU KNOW Series: Walnut

WOOD YOU KNOW – WALNUT

Walnut provides a handsome wood for paneling and furniture, and is often used for Asian furniture, like this antique Chinese cabinet. The heavy, durable, open-grained hardwood is highly valued by woodworkers for many uses. It can be expensive, which is why furniture made with walnut may cost more than a similar piece made of another wood.

What makes a hardwood?

Many people hear the word “hardwood” and think that it has to do entirely with the hardness of the wood. This is not necessarily the case. Although most hardwoods are indeed harder and stronger than softwoods, the difference between the two types of trees lies in how they produce their seeds. Hardwoods come from angiosperm trees, meaning that the trees flower and their seeds are usually basically naked.

Walnut is a hardwood with considerable durability. Its straight grain can keep a beautiful finish for many years. The color of the wood covers a range from the dark brown that people expect down to a lighter brown. It is one of the few woods that naturally has dark color tones. The darker wood tends to come from the middle of the walnut tree, while the wood of the outer layers is lighter in color. Woodworkers find it a pleasure to work with and it holds its shape well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Types of Walnut

There are several types of walnut woods. Common walnut is generally the most prevalent of the walnuts used for furniture. However, Black walnut is very popular due to the beauty of its grain. Butternut is related to the Black walnut, but its wood is paler in color and more lightweight. 

Asian Walnut

Shoppers may occasionally run across items made of a wood labeled “Asian walnut.” They should be aware that this is more likely to be acacia wood rather than actual walnut. Walnuts belong to the family Juglandaceae, while acacia trees are of the family Fabaceae. Marketers tend to label the acacia wood as Asian walnut because that name seems more attractive to buyers. However, acacia is more often used in flooring than in furniture.  At Terra Nova Asian Furniture, we pride ourselves on our high quality, REAL walnut Asian Furniture, like this antique Chinese walnut cabinet:

large antique walnut Chinese cabinet, from the Shanxi Province of China,
 available at Terra Nova Asian Furniture in Los Angeles

What to Look For

To be certain that the item you are looking at is indeed made from walnut, check for a straight grain in the wood. Although there may be a few swirls and curls in walnut, the over-all line of the grain should be straight. Be aware that stains for coloring the wood may make the grain less obvious. Also be aware that the piece of furniture you are looking at may have a walnut veneer, rather than being made of solid walnut.  The veneer will give furniture made from a lesser wood the pleasing appearance of solid walnut.  Knowing whether a piece is solid walnut or one with only a walnut veneer can make a difference in the price of the piece.

Dark Walnut Wood Grain Detail

In the end, the attraction of the dark wood tones of walnut can add a sense of stability and durability to any home environment.