French market vocabulary· French
Patine laquée
In English use: Polished lacquer-like patina
A hard, deeply lustrous, almost lacquer-like surface — built by years of handling, leaf-rubbing, and skin contact.
A hard, high-gloss, often honey- or mahogany-toned ageing layer, evoking East Asian lacquer. It develops through years of handling, deliberate rubbing with specific leaves or fats, and the steady skin contact of ritual use, combined with the natural oxidation of dense African hardwoods.
Frequently encountered on Dan masks (Côte d'Ivoire) and on Yoruba ritual staffs and iroke ifa divination tappers. The polished depth signals a well-cared-for, continuously-used object across multiple custodians.