Lacquered Leather * London Design Festival 2024

This project addresses the issue of modernizing the Yangzhou Lacquerware Factory. It presents a series of vessels made by shaping leather and then applying traditional lacquer techniques to their surfaces. The innovative combination of leather craftsmanship and lacquer artistry creates an intriguing material illusion—vessels that appear to be made of leather but feel like lacquerware to the touch. In terms of craftsmanship, two pieces of leather are shaped and then coated with lacquer on the inner surface, which is polished to a matte finish to ensure water resistance. This contrasts interestingly with the glossy lacquer on the exterior, resulting in a compelling interplay of textures.