elegant wrap

Daeng Thanunchai balances this decorative bamboo bowl with contrasting visual textures. The elegant external pattern of green on a black background illustrates the continual evolution of lacquer work in Northern Thailand. Mosaic eggshell patterns adorn the interior, resulting in a singular acquisition for the home.

A work of hypnotic beauty, this handcrafted pot adorns with rustic elegance. Daeng Thanunchai confides that to create this piece, he based his design on the idea of setting one's mind free - as if flying through the skies. The pot's neutral color is adorned by centrifugal flashes, resulting in a most versatile decorative item. Not intended to hold water.

To complete this piece, coiled bamboo basketry is firstly carved on a lathe into the desired shape. 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 colors are applied to the surface and the object is left to dry for a few days. The process remains identical for each ensuing color, 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.