Lacquer was first developed in China's prehistoric period, perhaps as early as 7000 BCE. In the 1930s some of the oldest and best preserved examples of early Chinese lacquer were uncovered in Hunan province. Though they dated to the Late Zhou era (circa 600 - 221 BCE), the bowls and other lacquer wares were kept in wonderful condition by the constant and extreme humidity present in the tombs.

Equally impressive is the condition of this lacquer bowl made in the year 4 CE, a date established by information contained in a detailed inscription running along the outside of the cup. As explained by specialists at the British Museum, the inscription tells us that the vessel was intended for the emperor, and was crafted in a workshop in an area known as Shu, located in modern Sichuan Province. Furthermore, "it goes on to name the craftsmen responsible for each step of the manufacturing process: making the wooden core, lacquering, top-coat lacquering, gilding the ear handles, painting, final polishing. It also names the inspectors, supervisors and deputies at the workshop."¹

The design motif of birds and geometric patterns depicted in a frieze around the outside of the cup is similar to types found on bronzes dating to the Zhou era (1045-256 BCE). The presence of bronze mountings over the cup handles further attest to the possibility that the cup design and form was created to mimic that of Zhou ceremonial bronze vessels.

As Marylin Rhie has pointed out, Han-era Chinese lacquer has been discovered as far west as Lou-lan and Niya in Central Asia and even Begram in Afghanistan.²  The waterproof properties of lacquer made it a logical choice for the preservation of both civic and religious documents, and in later centuries it became standard practice to store Buddhist sutras in lacquer cases. For this reason, many records inscribed on paper and silk, as well as bamboo and wooden strips, often survive to this day in surprisingly excellent condition.