Two dozen wooden-bodied lacquer ware works from the tombs of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) will return to Wuxi after two years' restoration work. [Photo/wxrb.com]

Two dozen wooden lacquer wares pieces from the tombs of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) will return to Wuxi soon after two years of restoration work.

In 2010, 15 of the 24 works were unearthed in Hongshan sub-district in Wuxi's Xinwu district. Made of wood and coated with black lacquer, they featured styles from the Song and Yuan dynasties and were helpful for the study of social conditions and funeral customs in Wuxi at that time.

Nine other works were unearthed in Wuxi's Xishan district in 2012, two of which are lotus leaf-shaped pillows. They were the first of their kind to be discovered.

Most of the 24 works are well preserved and beautifully decorated with characteristic features of that time. The 2010 discovery was the first time such exquisite wooden-bodied lacquer wares had been unearthed in Wuxi.

Some of the works had suffered structural damage before the excavation, such as water saturation, decay, mildew and deformation. Wuxi proposed a repair and protection program to the National Cultural Heritage Administration and won a special fund of 290,000 yuan ($42,171) for restoration.

In February 2017, the Yangzhou workstation of Jingzhou Cultural Protection Center started protective restoration work on these lacquer wares through cleaning separation, dehydration and reinforcement. This work took two years.

As they were suitable for exhibition and long-time preservation, the 24 works will be preserved in Wuxi for further study and display.