Japan - japanning

Japan refers to several types of quick drying, clear and colored varnishes that are used for decorative work, sign painting or industrial products such as ironware. It is too brittle for fine-art or permanent painting. The word Japanning, meaning using Japan, dates from the 17th Century and refers to "the European imitation of Asian lacquerwork". Margaret Mellor-Gill, Philadelphia artist, was known for her 18th century method of Japanning. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanned; Peter Hastings Falk, Editor, "Who Was Who in American Art". Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques