Guides & care
Caring for lacquerware in a hot, humid climate
Natural lacquer lasts for decades when treated well. A few simple rules about light, heat, water and cleaning keep a piece looking the way it did the day it left the workshop.
Traditional lacquerware is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, a natural material that keeps changing after it has dried: it hardens further with age, but it also responds to sunlight and temperature. Knowing that much is enough to look after it.
Three things to avoid
- Prolonged direct sun: ultraviolet light fades the colour, vermilion most of all
- Nearby heat: stoves, radiators, the top of a refrigerator — heat makes the wooden core move and can cause cracking
- Soaking or standing water: the lacquer itself is waterproof, but edges and bases are not
Everyday cleaning
Use a soft cotton cloth, dry or barely damp. Wipe in one direction rather than scrubbing in circles. No dish soap, alcohol or any cleaning solution — they dull the top coat. For grease, a little warm water is enough; dry at once.
When a piece is put away
Store it somewhere ventilated, and avoid sealing it in plastic: trapped moisture can raise mould on the wooden core. If trays or plates are stacked, put a thin cloth between them so they do not scratch each other.
If the surface goes dull
Lacquer dulling after years of use is normal, and it can be re-polished. Bring the piece back to the workshop; we can restore almost anything Red Door has made, including pieces that have been in daily use for a long time.
Lacquerware gets more beautiful with use. Do not keep it too safe.
