Zhu Bing, an inheritor of bodiless lacquer intangible cultural heritage, creates a work of art in Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Grass linen or silk is pasted onto a main body made of clay, plaster or wood — layer after layer — with lacquer as the binder.

The original body is then removed after the outer cloth shell has dried. The shell is then smoothed with putty, polished and coated with layers of lacquer.