Francisco
Coronel is world known for his extraordinary
lacquerware over gold and silver leaf. No other
artist in his field has achieved such recognition.
With more than 25 awards he is the only artist
that creates those wonderful pieces completely
covered with gold and silver leaf in Olinala
Guerrero the most important lacquer center
in Mexico.
Born in Olinala, Guerrero in 1941 he
learned from a young age the art of lacquer work
from his grandfather and his parents. In the 70's,
Francisco started working with gold
and silver leaf. He was commissioned to create a
magnificent batea to offer as a
present to Queen Elisabeth II. President
Vicente Fox presented Pope John Paul II
with a lacquer gold leaf trunk on his latest visit
to Mexico City
Coronel begins his
work by sanding the wooden (made from linaloe
wood) boxes and trays or drying and cleaning the
hard bark gourds. Next he
applies the base coat made with chia
seed oil, personally prepared by him, and earthen
pigments. The chia oil helps prevent
the lacquer from cracking. It is let to dry and then
is stone burnished until smooth. The process is
repeated applying several coats until the desired
color and shine are achieved. The pieces are then
left to dry for up to a month!
The pigments he employs come from
natural deposits in the region. For example, the
black color is produced by burning coal bark and
grinding it into a powder. The chia
oil is obtained by gathering seeds, roasting and
grinding them in a hand mil. Water is added to form
a paste that is then pressed to extract the oil. The
process is so time consuming that many artisans of
the region have abandoned the use of the Chia
oil substituting it with commercial oils. (Thus the
quality and authenticity of their crafts has
diminished).
The silver and gold leaf
technique is a very delicate process in which Mr.
Coronel carefully applies the leaf and then
stone burnishes it so it adheres smoothly. The
application of the leaf must be done in an enclosed
room with no air drafts so that it doesn't affect
the gild. After the leaf is applied, the piece is
once again left to dry. Later he skillfully paints
his design with a fine brush, also made by him with
bird feathers or cat hair.
