Eggshell Lacquer

Egg shell is used to decorate southeast Asian laquerware. The shells are applied to a thick coating of black laquer while it is still tacky then burnished to cause complex cracks.

This foot stool was modeled after a chair we saw in Chiang Mai.

Directions

  1. Collect egg shells and rinse them out and let them dry.
  2. Use a knife to lift up the inner membrane and peel it away from the egg shell.
  3. Paint the wood background with several layers of black acrylic paint and let it dry. Apply one last coat and immediately begin applying the egg shells.
  4. Place a piece of shell on the painted surface. Press down on the shell in the middle causing it to shatter. Carefully press the larger chunks so they are positioned like a puzzle.
  5. Cover a section with a piece of wax paper and gently tap the larger sections of shell with a hammer to cause smaller and smaller cracks to form.

 

Grade: