Japanning

(jah-păn'ning,) or LACQUERING. (Arts.) The art or method of giving a hard and highly-polished surface to articles made of wood, metal, leather, or papier mâché. This art derives its name from Japan, where a hard exterior and extremely brilliant polish is put on articles chiefly made of wood,by means of a natural varnish procured from several species of trees belonging to the O. An a card i aceæ, and used for the same purpose in China. The Japanese have carried this art so far as to apply it to their delicately beautiful china, some of which is lacquered and inlaid with mother-of pearl, forming landscapes and other designs. [s. 500]