Lacquer and Imitation Lacquer Folding Screens in New Spain
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and suggestions for the author
This article is a most welcome contribution to a little known aspect of lacquer art. The export of Chinese Coromandel lacquer screens to Spanish America and their impact on the manufacture of lacquer screens in local workshops have so far been widely ignored in the non Spanish specialized literature. She made clear that both Far Eastern and European lacquer served as technological and stylistic models for the New Spanish lacquer screens.
However, the terminology used by the author rises problems. The terms lacquer, lacquer-like, imitation lacquer and varnish are used parallely and without having been clearly distinguished one from another. I therefore recommend a clear definition at the beginning of the article and a thorough use of them.
Lacquer is primarily the European term for the (resinaceous) sap of the lacquer tree native in the East Asian countries. The authour should avoid to speak of Asian lacquer because shellac from Northern India or Persian lacquer made of the sandarak resin are likewise Asian lacquers. European lacquer is not a natural material ready for use but must be produced with a variety of resines which are dissolved in either oils or spirit. By contrast, varnish is the term for glossy coatings based on drying oils. The term imitation lacquer for European lacquer should be avoided. Does it mean imitation of material qualities or/and imitation of stylistic features?
Additional remarks:
Line 28
in East Asia only the resin (not the resins!) of the lacquer tree was used. The term varnish in connection with East Asian lacquer should absolutely be avoided
Line 58-59
Novohispanic lacquer and lacquer-like folding screens: the meaning is not clear
Line 115-116
With the exception of the term copal for especially transparent resins; the term which was first used in Europe in the late 17th century, is derived from the Aztec word copalli.
Line 149-150
No doubt, Japanese lacquer items were exported to the Americas as early as the late 16th century. As Japanese lacquer screens are extremely rare, I doubt whether these imports included lacquer screens as well. I recommend to specify that the screens were made of different materials (for example painted paper).
Line 264
the relief work: more precisely – the incised relief work
Line 272
Lacquer screens were also manufactured in German workshops, for example in Dresden; see Hans Huth: Lacquer of the West. The History of a Craft and an Industry 1550-1950. Chicago and London 1971, p. 76.
Line 305
Giles Grendey; the name should be explained, at least in a footnote.
Line 358-359
a red lacquer cabinet … the same as most Chinese-style folding screens: I presume the influence of English red lacquer furniture which was also very popular in Spain in the first half of the 18th century from where this fashion spread to New Spain.
Line 423-426
Does the explanation given here refer to historical sources or to recent art historical research?
Line 465
Chinese white lacquer screens: Due to the material properties of East Asian lacquer its colour range was very limited until synthetic pigments were introduced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chinese white lacquer screens could not have been produced in the 17th or 18th centuries. I suppose that the screens in question had a polished chalk ground (in Japan, 'white lacquer' was produced with pulverized and polished shell – gofun ).
Illustrations
Three of the seven illustrations in the article depict Chinese Coromandel screens. As the author points out the importance of Spanish lacquer screens that had been imported to New Spain and had influenced the lacquer workshops there, I recommend to illustrate at least one of these Spanish screens
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Point 1: The terminology used by the author rises problems. The terms lacquer, lacquer-like, imitation lacquer and varnish are used parallely and without having been clearly distinguished one from another. I therefore recommend a clear definition at the beginning of the article and a thorough use of them.
Response:
I totally agree with this suggestion. However, the reason why the terms lacquer, lacquer-like and imitation lacquer are used parallelly and not clearly defined through the paper is because that is how they appear in Novohispanic documents. Some works whose descriptions suggest the same kind of work are sometimes said to be lacquer, and other times, imitation lacquer. At this stage of research, when technical studies are yet to be done, it is not possible to offer a clear definition of each production. However, close attention will be paid to the specific terms used in each case and they will be thoroughly translated through the paper.
Point 2- Additional remarks: (lines 28; 58-59; 115-116; 149-150; 264; 272; 305; 358-359; 423-426; 465)
Response: I very much acknowledge all these suggestions. I have introduced changes following such suggestions; they are highlighted in red in the revised version of the paper.
Point 3. Illustrations: I recommend to illustrate at least one of these Spanish screens
Response: Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate Spanish lacquer screens to include with this paper.
Reviewer 2 Report
Review of the Manuscript
“Lacquer and imitation lacquer folding screens in New Spain”
The author presents and describes the historiography of folding screens in New Spain quite thoroughly and meaningfully. The structure of the manuscript is clear. In addition, the paper is well illustrated with several figures and tables.
The only thing I would like to point out is that citations which are given in the text in Spanish should also be submitted in English (page 12, lines 365 – 372, 374 – 378, 384 – 391).
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Point 1: The only thing I would like to point out is that citations which are given in the text in Spanish should also be submitted in English (page 12, lines 365 – 372, 374 – 378, 384 – 391).
Response: In this revised version, I have translated all the citations.
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper, titled "Lacquer and imitation lacquer folding screens in New Spain", provides a brief history of lacquer screens in New Spain. The article may be useful to some of the Heritage readers.
But I have two basic suggestions:
1- This paper has a historical perspective. This has made its text more like an event report, rather than a scientific and research paper. In some places "I" is mentioned, so I suggest you correct these sentences. It is also better to add a conclusion to the article.
2- Heritage is more focused on technical papers. Therefore, in order to attract more readers, it is necessary to report the technical aspects of this type of work. In other words, it is necessary to mention the materials and the manufacturing process of these lacquer screens. Also, if technical studies have been done on the works mentioned in the article, discuss them.
Minor suggestions:
Lines 144-146: Please delete.
In the references, use papers, published in Heritage, related to the topic of your manuscript.
Author Response
Point 1- This paper has a historical perspective. This has made its text more like an event report, rather than a scientific and research paper. In some places "I" is mentioned, so I suggest you correct these sentences. It is also better to add a conclusion to the article.
Response: This paper is for a special issue that combines science, art history, history and conservation. The approach is based upon documentary information, and is therefore suitable for publication.
Also, I have corrected the sentences, eliminating the “I” noun.
Point 2- Heritage is more focused on technical papers. Therefore, in order to attract more readers, it is necessary to report the technical aspects of this type of work. In other words, it is necessary to mention the materials and the manufacturing process of these lacquer screens. Also, if technical studies have been done on the works mentioned in the article, discuss them.
Response: As already mentioned, this issue also includes art history and history focused papers. I agree that technical studies will be necessary to further investigate this subject, but the documentary analysis offers insight into the topic too.
Minor suggestions:
Lines 144-146: Please delete.
Response: I am wondering if I misunderstood this suggestion. These lines were a heading and the first line of a new topic: “3.1. Lacquer and screens in Spanish America: an outline
Folding screens and lacquer were known in New Spain at the end of the 16th century”.
For this reason, I have not deleted them.
Point 3: In the references, use papers, published in Heritage, related to the topic of your manuscript.
Response: I have browsed on Heritage’s site and haven’t found any paper directly related to this topic.
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
I feel that the authors have responded to the reviewers' comments to an acceptable extent.
Therefore, the article is acceptable for publication.
Author Response
Thank you very much.
