patterned

Golden flames inspired by Thailand's ancient temples form an intricate pattern on a lacquered black picture frame. Nantana Sompamitre's work is aimed at preserving Thailand's kruang-kern (lacquerware) traditions. She uses only natural materials and solutions, and the finished piece reveals a regal beauty.

Up to 26 coats of pure lacquer are applied to mango wood, polished with powdered fired clay, and gilded with a technique called lai rot nam, (watered pattern). Motifs are engraved free-hand and gold leaf is applied.

Inlaid on black lacquer, gleaming golden foil creates a chessboard pattern. Nantana Sompamitre works with mango wood to craft a box for business cards. A Thai technique dating back many generations, lacquer art is masterfully demonstrated in this design.

The Prathin family's decorative lacquerware bowl is truly a one-of-a-kind find. The Thai artisans hand carve the bowl and matching lid from mango wood before covering the outside in a glossy black lacquer. The bowl and lid are then hand painted in a pretty floral pattern, while the inside remains a solid, eye-catching red.

India's valley grows with enchanting beauty whenever spring arrives. Inspired by those floral landscapes full of magic and serenity, artisan Mohammad Hussain Baba works with papier mache on weeping willow wood to create this decorative box full of the region's bewitching scenes. With intense colours and golden accents merging in a spring pattern, the piece is lacquered for a lustrous finish.

Delicate snowflakes flutter to earth in deep, soft drifts. The exquisite mosaic adorns a mango wood vase, finished in lacquer. Working with ancestral techniques, Nantana Sompamitre crafts the beautiful piece by hand. Once the wood is carved into the desired shape it is coated with lacquer. Once dried it is polished, and another coat is applied – up to twenty times – before as many six coats of pure lacquer are present. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay. Next, eggshells are cleaned and cracked into small pieces. Sompamitre arranges them in the desired pattern on a fresh coat of lacquer. The piece is lacquered twice more and sanded in water until the eggshells appear.

Like an ancient vessel found on temple altars, this handcrafted vase preserves an aura of rustic elegance. Presented by Nantana Sompamitre, the mango wood vase features a carefully affixed eggshell mosaic - evidencing Thailand's sumptuous lacquer ware legacy. Not watertight.

To craft a piece such as this one, mango wood is carefully hand-shaped upon a lathe and then a mixture of lacquer - obtained from trees and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks - is applied. Upon exposure to air the mixture dries to form a watertight seal which is polished before another coat is applied. This process is repeated until a rigid base is formed, and a final polishing is executed with sandpaper and several coats of pure lacquer are painted on the object, with drying periods in between each coat.

Next, chicken or duck eggshells are thoroughly cleaned and finely cracked to be patiently arranged in a mosaic pattern upon a fresh coat of lacquer. The work again lacquered twice, and when dry it is sanded in water until the eggshells slowly appear. The piece is finally rinsed with water and polished with powdered fired clay, resulting in an alluring distinctive gleam.

Care Instructions: Lacquerware is not dishwasher safe. When cleaning is needed, simply clean with a damp cloth and never use any type of abrasive cleaner.

Like a scene of nature's chemistry, soothing green tones ascend this unusual vase in an evolution of expressive rings. Presented by Daeng Thanunchai, the piece revels in the glassy surface of lacquered design. A modern and original Thai accent for the home. Not intended for use with water.

To complete this piece, coiled bamboo basketry is carved into the desired shape on a lathe. A mixture of lacquer - obtained from the Gluta usitata tree - and ashes of burnt rice paddy husks is then applied to the object. Upon exposure to air the mixture dries to form a watertight seal that is polished before another coat is applied. This process is repeated until a rigid base is formed, and a final polishing is executed with sandpaper. Then several coats of pure lacquer are painted on the object, with drying periods in between each coat.

The work is partially polished with sandpaper according to a predetermined pattern - generally concentric - and a few coats of different lacquer colours are applied to the surface, then the object is left to dry for a few days. The process remains identical for each ensuing colour, alternating lacquering and polishing sessions until the design is achieved. The final coat is washed with water and polished with powdered fired clay, offering an irresistible sheen.