Resin of animal origin produced from a species of hemiptera insects that live in the Indies. It appears in the form of a brownish-red mass that is progressively purified and then commercialized in the form of thin scales and yellowish-brown in colour. It has found ample use for the alcohol varnishes used in cabinet making and in the making of stringed instruments, while its use as a varnish for painting is limited due to its sensitivity to humidity and facility to darken. In restoration, it is essentially used as a consolidant for mural paintings and, in addition to, as a weak binder (diluted in alcohol) and as an ingredient for adhesives. Its use presents some evident limits, given that shellac in time tends to become irreversible, with noted removal problems in the case of the restoration of zones where it is present. Incorrectly, Japanese Lacquer is often indicated with the term Shellac.