A small fragment of Lanna red and black lacquer was found at the Doi Musser Tak Hilltop Burial Site, proving that lacquer was made in the area before the last half of the sixteenth century.
This type of lacquer was made at Lampang and Chiang Mai up until the Second World War when production ceased, probably because the vermilion colour was cinnabar or sulphide of mercury.
All the pieces in this collection would have been made in the first half of the twentieth century. They were acquired in the 1970's and 1980's.
Finely woven bamboo basketry or well seasoned wood was made into the desired shape, it was then coated with a mixture of burned rice husks or clay mixed with rak or black lacquer, a tree resin. When dry it was polished and the process repeated up to fifteen times, giving a rigid base. Next several coats of pure lacquer were applied and polished. The red colour was then applied in the kai kud process.
At Ayuthya gold leaf was used to create the pattern.