lacquerware

As conservator Carl Patterson explains below, Japanese lacquered objects are complex and can be difficult to preserve, even in the controlled environment of the museum.

Preserving Japanese Lacquer

Lacquer surfaces are hard and resistant to moisture. Often the material underneath the lacquer is wood, basketry, and paper which do responds to moisture in the air by swelling when the humidity is high and shrinking when it gets too low. If this happens too much, the rigid lacquer surface can be damaged by the movement of the materials underneath and cracks appear.

The museum takes steps to prevent damage to lacquer, like the cracks on this lacquer tabletop.

Trays of special humidifying silica gel are hidden in the bottom of each case containing lacquered objects to keep the air in the case from becoming too dry. It is also able to absorb and release moisture as needed to keep the humidity level constant.

Small instruments called hygrothermgraphs moniter the temperature and relative humidity inside the case at all times.

This conservation message is generously supported by the William H. Donner Foundation.