handcrafted decor

Inspired by traditional baskets, this basket from Thailand is handcrafted from teak wood, displaying a beautiful natural grain. This basket features a simple square shape with a handle. Arnon Thongkaew presents this charming decor accessory.

With an earthen finish, this handcrafted plate makes a characteristic addition to your home decor. The enigmatic swirls of color at once hypnotize and inspire, revealing the decorative beauty of this one-of-a-kind item by Daeng Thanunchai.

To complete this piece, coiled bamboo basketry is firstly carved on a lathe into the desired shape. A mixture of lacquer - obtained from trees 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.

Delicate blue flowers adorn the smooth shells of these charming turtles. Working with mango wood, Nantana Sompamitre creates a matched pair of boxes. In Thailand, turtles are symbols of good luck, revered for their longevity. Sompamitre carves wood into the desired shape and coats it with lacquer. Once dried it is polished and another coat is applied – up to twenty times. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay and painted by hand.

Glossy mango wood hosts a forest of flowers in a work of art by Nantana Sompamitre This exquisite bowl is lacquered inside and out; the green blossoms are etched by hand. She lathes the mango wood into the desired shape and coats it with lacquer. When dry, it is polished, and another coat is applied – up to twenty times – before as many six coats of pure lacquer are applied. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay.

Nantana Sompamitre orchestrates a floral revelry detailed in blue for the design of this decorative box. Hand-carved of mango wood, the etched images are underscored by glossy black lacquer in the tradition of Thai décor.

Nantana Sompamitre orchestrates a floral revelry detailed in green for the design of this decorative box. Hand-carved of mango wood, the etched images are underscored by glossy black lacquer in the tradition of Thai décor.

Nantana Sompamitre orchestrates a floral revelry detailed in gold for the design of this decorative box. Hand-carved of mango wood, the etched images are underscored by glossy black lacquer in the tradition of Thai décor.

Nantana Sompamitre orchestrates a floral revelry detailed in purple for the design of this decorative box. Hand-carved of mango wood, the etched images are underscored by glossy black lacquer in the tradition of Thai décor.

A florid medallion adorns the lid of this lacquered wood decorative box from Thailand. By Nantana Sompamitre, the florid artistry on the box is etched by hand and painted blue over black, creating a marvelous effect.

Handcrafted of bamboo and finished with a shining lacquer, this decorative bowl from Thailand is presented by Daeng Thanunchai. Its interior features a solid brown color with a textured exterior.

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.

This marvelous decorative plate is the creation of Daeng Thanunchai in Thailand. The plate is crafted through an elaborate process of forming the coiled bamboo on a lathe, and then applying several layers of a lacquer mixed with the ashes of burnt rice-paddy husks. Subsequent layers of colored lacquers and clear lacquer are applied, and the plate is sanded between each application. A final polishing with powdered fired clay gives the plate a gloriously glossy finish.