work coat

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.

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 red 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.

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.

Waves of gold dance across a black surface in this wood photo frame. India's Kamal designs it with a round shape, fascinated with the way that a piece of work transforms during the creative process. The frame is designed to hold a 4 inch diameter photo.

Petite and lovely, this finely-crafted decorative box is perfect for small personal treasures. Mohammad Hussain Baba works in the style of Kashmir, crafting the container of weeping willow wood. He covers it with papier mache in an art form that originated in Persia in the 15th century and meticulously paints the golden floral images by hand on the deep red surface. They are protected with a coat of lacquer.

Petite and lovely, this finely-crafted decorative box is perfect for small personal treasures. Mohammad Hussain Baba works in the style of Kashmir, crafting the container of weeping willow wood. He covers it with papier mache in an art form that originated in Persia in the 15th century and meticulously paints the golden floral images by hand on the deep blue surface. They are protected with a coat of lacquer.

Dark and mysterious, this heart-themed black marble home accent transforms any room with its smooth, polished surface and captivating depth. The natural stone’s perfectly carved curves are the work of Mexico’s talented Sierra Family, whose sweet creation is a testament to Earth’s geological wonders shaped into a universal symbol of affection.

From Argentina and Francisco, this delightful box is crafted by young people from the Asociación ADISA. The box is crafted by hand by recycling local Guatemalan newspapers and finished with several coats of varnish protect the piece. The lid features a section of a cotton huipil blouse worn by women in San Lucas Tolimán that has been woven on a back strap loom.

Before you write a single word, this journal has already told a story. Designed by Balinese artisan Komang Sulaksana, it is handcrafted from banana tree bark and dressed with a kupu-kupu leaf motif worked in twisted agel grass cord, its swirls and curls anchored against a cover that carries the quiet geometry of real leaves pressed into its surface. A cinnamon stick bound with cord holds it all together, and inside, 50 blank pages of rice straw paper wait for sketches, thoughts or whatever the day demands, all of it sustainable, all of it made by hand.

Resplendent in glorious artistry, floriated medallions link their magnificent allure in the embellishment of this extraordinary centerpiece. Nantana Sompamitre works alongside her trained artisans to create this piece, akin to a traditional offering bowl. Sompamitre's endeavor seeks to preserve Thailand's kruang-kern (lacquerware) heritage, and this piece exhibits her refined artistry.

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. To decorate this piece, the artisan abrades floral motifs with a sharp tool evidencing her artistic instinct.

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.

Fida Hussain's colorful pen holder is the perfect office accessory for a productive day at work. The Indian artisan starts by using the traditional art of papier mache to hand craft the holder before buffing and hand painting the exterior with a bright elephant motif. Finally, the artisan coats the decorative box with a glossy lacquer for a protective finish.

An oxcart awaits the day's work in the yard between two country cottages with red tile roofs. Crafted by hand, this cedar plate shares a glimpse of rural Costa Rica. Jorge Leiton creates it from cutting the initial wood circles, to shaping them, then painting them by hand. A coat of resin protects the images and a brass hook facilitates wall display.