Urushi lacquer is one of the strongest organic craft materials ever developed. It doesn't react with chemicals and is waterproof, repels mold and mildew, prevents rotting and weathering. Only sunshine and wear and tear can damage it. Absolutely non-toxic: perfect for utensils. 
Urushi comes from a tree that matures relatively quickly and is easily grown. Harvesting and applying raw urushi can be dangerous though, as it can cause wild allergic reactions in many people, even just the fumes. A mature tree give about 200g of the valuable sap.
It has been used for everything from protecting building details from rot and insects to armor details, helmets, scabbards, furniture, and combs, handles, earthware, etc.
The oldest urushi item ever found was a lacquered piece of wood used to construct a dam about 10 000 B.C. Here is a comb that spent about 6000 years submerged in acidic watery earth. It still shone when excavated.
In this age of climate change panic it would behoove us to rediscover and radically foster a return to the timeless crafts and ways of our ancestors, because this is what traditions really are: “answers that have been discovered to enduring questions.” (Sir Roger Scruton)
