What does damar mean?
Damar is a hard, pale, translucent resin obtained from trees of the genus Shorea and related dipterocarps native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. Harvesters collect it either by tapping living trees or gathering it where it accumulates on the bark. Prized since at least the nineteenth century, damar dissolves readily in turpentine and produces a clear, colourless varnish that dries to a smooth, glossy, water-resistant film. This makes it a staple material for oil painters, who use it both as a final protective varnish and as an ingredient in painting mediums, as well as for wood finishing and traditional lamp fuel and incense in its regions of origin. The word entered English from Malay, reflecting its geographic source. Though largely unfamiliar outside specialist circles, damar remains valued among conservators and artists for the luminous, durable finish it imparts.
nounA hard translucent resin obtained from various Southeast Asian trees (especially of the genus Shorea), used chiefly in making varnish, lacquer, and paint mediums.
- A hard resin from Southeast Asian dipterocarp trees, used in varnishes, lacquers, and oil-painting mediums.
"The restorer mixed the pigment with a little damar to give the painting a warm, glassy finish."
"She dissolved damar crystals in turpentine to make her own picture varnish."
"The furniture was coated with a damar-based lacquer that gave it a deep amber sheen."
Usually uncountable; the plural appears mainly when distinguishing varieties or commercial grades of the resin.
"Indonesian markets sell several damars, each graded by colour and clarity."
That glossy finish on old-master-style oil paintings often comes from damar — a tree resin harvested from Southeast Asian forests that painters have prized for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of damar
Damar entered English in the early nineteenth century from Malay 'damar', the local name for the resin and the trees producing it. It reflects direct borrowing from the trade in Southeast Asian forest products during the colonial era. A common variant spelling is 'dammar', and related borrowings appear in Dutch, which also absorbed the Malay term through trade contact.
How damar is actually used
Chiefly used in technical contexts — fine-art conservation, painting, and woodworking. Also spelled 'dammar'. Uncountable when referring to the substance itself, though 'damars' occurs when referring to varieties or sources of the resin.
Easily confused with damar
Damar is a tree resin used in varnishes, while dharma is a Sanskrit term for cosmic law, duty, or the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism.