painted

Three inhabitants of the Peruvian Andes, their charming braids, hats and ponchos elegantly showcased, create a captivating focal point in this ceramic decorative vase of breathtaking beauty. Masterfully handcrafted and hand-painted by Francisco Guerreros, this exquisite accessory boasts a palette of brown, blue, orange, black, red and yellow, bringing an enchanting visual harmony. The final touch is a lustrous coat of lacquer that adds to the vase’s uniqueness.

This exquisite hand-painted ceramic decorative vase showcases the remarkable beauty of the Peruvian Andes in all its splendor. Four inhabitants of the highlands facing away from the viewer let their delightful braids, hats and ponchos take center stage. Francisco Guerreros chooses a palette of contrasting colors where shades of blue, green, black, red, brown and yellow dominate. The meticulous finishing touch comes in the form of a lustrous coat of lacquer, adding a mesmerizing sheen to this stunning design.

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.