The Washington Post, May 28th, 1987
One of the mysteries that has come down to us from neolithic times is the date of the discovery of the usefulness of the Rhus verniciflua, or lacquer tree. In liquid form, the sap from this tree, found nowadays in China, Japan and Korea, is toxic in much the same way as poison ivy or poison oak. However, when it dries, the sap becomes hard, producing a glossy, durable finish impervious to liquids. In its hardened state, the sap is no longer toxic. East Asian craftsmen applied lacquer to all kinds of bamboo and wood objects-bowls, boxes, cups and decorative pieces. They often mixed pigments wit...
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