ornaments for tree

Delicate pink flowers adorn the smooth shell of a diminutive turtle. Working with rain tree wood, Nantana Sompamitre crafts a charming box with Thailand's traditional lacquer art. In Thailand, turtles are symbols of good luck, revered for their longevity.

Centrifugal shadows adorn this pot, handcrafted with refined perfection by Daeng Thanunchai. Oval in shape, the pot is available in two colors, red or green, and exudes the intriguing beauty of lacquered bamboo. An original accent for a rustic décor. Not watertight.

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. Then 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.

Painted by hand, lovely gold-tone floral and leaf motifs decorate the black surface of this decorative box from India. Created by Mohammad Hussain Baba crafts this rectangular box from lacquered papier mache over weeping willow wood. The lid lifts open to reveal a single-compartment interior for storing small items.