Production and Consumption of Coromandel Lacquer Screens in the 17th and 18th Centuries

Coromandel lacquer screens, crafted in China during the Qing Dynasty and exported to Europe via Dutch and English East India Companies, played a pivotal role in 17th and 18th-century global interaction and consumer culture. These screens, typically featuring twelve panels with continuous scenes of human figures, landscapes, or bird-and-flower motifs, were not merely commodities but active participants in cross-cultural exchange. The study reveals that their production was influenced by Chinese domestic traditions focused on social prestige, while their consumption in Europe reflected exotic luxury and sparked stylistic changes in chinoiserie. Historical records, including the 16th-century book Xiu Shi lu and inscriptions on the screens, provide insights into their production techniques, themes, and purposes. The research also highlights parallels between lacquer screens and contemporary paintings, as well as their inspiration from landscape woodblock prints.

Yu, S. (2021). Production and Consumption of Coromandel Lacquer Screens in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Korean Journal of Art History, 312, 75–108. https://doi.org/10.31065/kjah.312.202112.003