Lacquer in the Americas

Indigenous American lacquers are captivating subjects that have recently begun to receive international recognition. Following the success of Lacquer in the Americas, the first international conference on this topic held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in April 2023, this volume continues the conversation, bringing the lacquer community together again and bridging geographical and language divides. Published in both English and Spanish, the contributions focus on a diverse range of lacquer traditions, including barniz de Pasto and mopa mopa, Mexican lacquer (or maque), and cumatê.

This Special Issue serves as a multidisciplinary research resource, offering scientific and historical reviews, case studies, and articles that explore sociological, anthropological, and cross-cultural perspectives, examining exchanges between Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The approach taken in compiling this volume goes beyond traditional European and North American viewpoints, and includes voices that represent the genesis and context of Indigenous American lacquer objects more faithfully and objectively.