Types of Vietnam Lacquer Paint

In traditional Vietnamese lacquer art, each type of Sơn Ta (natural lacquer, Rhus Succedanea resin) plays a distinct role — from building a strong foundation to adding the final glossy surface. Depending on the method of processing and intended use, Vietnamese lacquer is divided into several types such as raw lacquer, vóc lacquer, colored lacquer, cockroach wing lacquer,... Each type varies not only in color but also in application technique, durability, and refinement. Understanding these differences is essential for artisans and collectors seeking authentic, high-quality lacquerware.

In this content, we will introduce to you different kinds of lacquer paint in traditional Vietnam lacquer art:

• Ground Lacquer (Sơn Vóc)

• ​Premium Aged Lacquer (Sơn Ngả)

• ​Cockroach-Wing Lacquer (Sơn Cánh Gián)

• ​Black Lacquer (Sơn Then)

• Colored Lacquer (Sơn Phủ Màu)

​Ground Lacquer (Sơn Vóc)

Sơn Vóc, also known as Sơn Gắn (Binding Lacquer), refers to the third stage of raw lacquer after the resin has been harvested and stored for a period of time.

The term Ground Lacquer is understood in two different ways. In one context, it serves as a general term for foundational lacquer types—such as sơn hom or sơn bó—used as base coats before the application of finishing layers. However, in market usage, sơn vóc often refers specifically to lower-grade lacquer resin primarily used in the preparation of base layers like hom and bó lacquers.

Typically ranging in color from reddish-yellow to ivory white, ground lacquer is mainly used as an adhesive or bonding layer for items such as lacquered wooden boats, household goods made of bamboo or rattan, and as the foundational material in the vóc-making process for lacquer art.

The finished vóc forms can take various shapes—flat boards, plates, boxes, or jars—depending on the artisan’s creative intention and the requirements of the final product.

Premium Aged Lacquer (Sơn Ngả)

In traditional lacquerware production, Sơn Ngả  (Premium Aged Lacquer)  refers to a high-grade raw lacquer made from the two most premium components of aged lacquer resin: sơn mặt dầu (surface oil lacquer) and sơn giọi (settled lacquer). This refined mix is the key ingredient used to produce sơn chín (final mature lacquer) such as sơn cánh gián or sơn quang, which are applied as finishing coats in lacquer artworks and products.

Composition of Sơn Ngả​

1. Sơn Mặt Dầu (Surface Oil Layer): This is the glossy, dark brown layer that rises to the top of raw lacquer after a period of storage. It is considered the most concentrated and refined part of the lacquer, rich in binding and film-forming properties. 

​2. ​Sơn Giọi (Settled Lacquer): The remaining portion below the surface oil, further divided into: 

• Sơn Nhất: The lighter, upper layer of the settled portion, typically pale straw-yellow. If it appears white, it indicates the surface oil has been depleted.

• Sơn Nhị: The heavier bottom layer, which settles at the base and has a light yellowish-white color.

Cockroach-Wing Lacquer (Sơn Cánh Gián)

Sơn cánh gián is a traditional type of sơn chín (final mature lacquer) in Vietnamese lacquer art, named for its signature reddish-brown metallic hue that resembles the iridescent color of a cockroach’s wing. It is widely used as a background color or final topcoat, providing lacquerware with a deep luster, elegant tone, and exceptional durability.

Key Characteristics of Cockroach-Wing Lacquer:

• Color: Deep reddish-brown with a warm coppery sheen, especially rich when finely polished.

• Origin: Made from stirring high-grade sơn ngả (Premium Aged Lacquer) without heat and no contact with iron

• Applications: Commonly used as a base or finishing coat in lacquer paintings, decorative handicrafts, furniture, boxes, vases, and other fine lacquer products.

• Properties: Excellent adhesion, water-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and maintains its color over time.

Black Lacquer (Sơn Then)

Sơn then is a classic deep-black lacquer widely used in Vietnamese traditional lacquerware. It is a type of sơn chín (final mature lacquer) known for its opaque, rich black color and smooth, glossy finish. Often serving as a background or accent layer, sơn then adds contrast, depth, and elegance to lacquer paintings and decorative objects.

Key Characteristics of Black Lacquer:

• Color: Solid jet black, with a deep luster when polished, offering a sense of sophistication and visual weight.

• Origin: Made by stirring Premium Aged Lacquer (sơn ngả) with soft iron rods in a cast iron or pan, a process that refines the lacquer’s texture and its black color. Fine black pigments such as soot are then blended in to produce the iconic rich black tone.

• Applications: Frequently used as a background in lacquer paintings, base color in decorative items, and outer finishing coats in high-end lacquer furniture and crafts.

• Properties: Excellent coverage, high opacity, durable, water-resistant, and capable of highlighting metallic or inlaid elements.

Colored Lacquer (Sơn Phủ Màu)

Sơn phủ màu, in traditional Vietnamese lacquer art, refers to a pigmented lacquer layer created by mixing natural raw lacquer with mineral or organic color powders. This layer is applied after the foundational base (such as vóc, hom, or lót) has been completed. Its purpose is to define the primary colors of a painting or decorative object and is typically used before the final glossy topcoat is applied.

Colored lacquer is not the final glossy coat. Instead, it acts as a middle layer—typically sanded smooth before being sealed with finishing lacquers such as Sơn Cánh Gián (Cockroach-Wing Lacquer) or Sơn Then (Black Lacquer) to protect the colors and enhance their brilliance.

Key Characteristics of Colored Lacquer:

• Composition: Colored lacquer is made by blending refined raw lacquer with color pigments such as cinnabar red, turmeric yellow, charcoal black, crushed oyster shell, ground gold leaf, or natural minerals.

• Function: It serves as the color-defining layer for specific design elements or backgrounds. Artists use it to paint details, fill large areas with color, or create base hues across the surface. In some cases, it is layered over gold or silver leaf to produce the unique “hidden-revealed” optical effects that are characteristic of Vietnamese lacquerware.

• Properties: It adheres strongly to both lacquer base surfaces and metal leaf. Once dry, it can be polished to create visual depth and richness in tone. Each color must be aged separately and mixed in the correct proportions to prevent clumping or flaking during drying.

  
  

Summary

Type of Lacquer	Color Characteristics	Main Application	Key Properties
Raw Lacquer Resin (Rhus Succedanea)	Natural resin color	Raw material for refining and further processing	High water content, requires additional process
Cockroach Wing Lacquer	Deep brown (cockroach wing color)	Base or finishing layer for lacquerware	Glossy, durable, warm and rich color
Black Lacquer	Natural black with slight purple hue	Final outer coating for protection and gloss	High durability, excellent waterproofing
Ground Lacquer	Light brown with no distinctive color	Hard, smooth base layer for making vóc (artwork base)	High hardness, easy to polish smooth
Colored Lacquer	Various colors	Adds diverse colors to lacquer paintings and crafts	Long-lasting color, easy to adjust tones

Cockroach Wing Lacquer vs Black Lacquer

Criteria	Cockroach Wing Lacquer	Black Lacquer (Then Lacquer)
Color	Dark reddish-brown with coppery highlights	Jet black, sometimes with a purplish sheen when polished
Origin	Made from premium aged lacquer, without heat, no contact with iron	Made from premium aged lacquer, with gentle heat, stir with a iron bar in a cast iron or pot
Application	Used as a base or final coating	Final outer coating to enhance gloss and color depth
Gloss Level	Moderate gloss, warm tone	Deep, intense gloss with refined uniformity
Difficulty to Make	Easier to produce, does not require heat processing	More complex, requires careful temperature control during heating