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Lacquered bamboo pot, 'Mercury'

Product ID: U485624

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Lacquered bamboo pot, 'Mercury'

Delivery Estimate

Get it before Mother's Day [see all shipping options]

This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Learn More

Available in 2 to 8 weeks. Learn More

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Details

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.

Made in Thailand

  • Bamboo
  • Not watertight
  • For decorative use only
  • Do not use abrasives
  • Wipe with a damp cloth
  • Free Gift Wrap? No
  • Premium Gift Wrap? No
  • 1.10 kgs
  • 2.4 lbs
  • 17 cm H x 35 cm Diam.
  • 6.75" H x 13.75" Diam.
View in metric units View in US/English units

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Daeng Thanunchai

Meet the Artist

Artfully crafted by Daeng Thanunchai from Thailand.

 

Meet the Artist

Daeng Thanunchai

Daeng Thanunchai

"I must use all my knowledge and experience, be extremely focused, and above all very patient."

"My name is Daeng Thanunchai and I have been crafting lacquer wares for over forty years. I was born the 6th of... February, 1946 in northern Thailand. I took courses in primary school, but did not carry on afterward because my parents did not have the financial means to afford the education of six children. I was only eleven years old when I dropped out, and with my future ahead, I looked for something to do. We heard one day that the Department of Factories promoted a course in which a lacquer ware specialist from Japan would train interested people. It was a great opportunity, so I enrolled and learned from this Japanese master of lacquer for six years.

"Upon completion, I worked for the company who funded the course. There, I enhanced my knowledge and gained more experience along with my foreman and my friends. It was also during that time that I met Jinda, who was later to become my beloved wife. I worked for this company many years to the best of my ability, and I climbed step by step the hierarchy ladder to be eventually promoted head worker. The owners, my co-workers and the customers liked my works and that really made me proud and happy.

"But I gradually thought to have my own shop, because I was not challenged anymore and also because at about forty years old I wanted to be someone else than a factory worker all my life. In passing, I was also frustrated that the company took all the credit for every prize my work was awarded in exhibitions. Subsequently, I resigned and set up a little workshop in my house. I invited a couple of artisans to help me, but I never taught them anything for they were already quite skilled in their particular field. I have two sons but they are not interested to learn my craft. I have not taught anyone for a long time, because teaching requires constant attention and hard work and I now want to be unworried and rest, but I also feel sad that nobody will carry on after me.

"Handcrafting lacquer ware is extremely difficult. I must use all my knowledge and experience, be extremely focused and above all very patient. A single piece takes me between one and two months to complete, sometimes even longer. In the past, when technology was not as advanced as it currently is, it took us even longer a time for we had to obey the natural laws, follow the seasons, and give into their wishes. You see, the humidity is a very important factor in the drying of liquid lacquer. In summer, we simply could not work with the lacquer for it would melt and behave strangely. Nowadays, to craft an object, I firstly design the shape and think of colors matching it. Then artisans make the object out of coiled bamboo and I lathe it. I also have adapted other materials to specific shapes so as to craft innovative items. I particularly work with clay that I prepare and that the artisans shape later on the wheel. Presently, I just work when the orders come in and rest in between.

"I am very pleased to have come in contact with you, and I am glad to see that objects made with my hands are going to reach people all over the world. I want to tell the customers that I spent my whole life to be a lacquer artisan, and my wares somehow represent this life. I will keep on crafting my objects to my best and you will not be disappointed when you hold and display them."

To complete this piece, coiled bamboo basketry is first carved on a lathe into the desired shape. A mixture of lacquer 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.

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We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.

Return instructions

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This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.

Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.

If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.

In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.

This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).

WOMEN S M L XL XXL
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
BUST 35 - 36 37 - 38 39 - 41 42 - 44 46 - 48
WAIST 27 - 28 29 - 30 31 - 33 34 - 36 38 - 40
HIPS 37 - 38 39 - 40 42 - 43 45 - 46 49 - 50
MEN S M L XL XXL
CHEST 36 - 38 39 - 41 42 - 44 46 - 48 50 - 52
WAIST 30 - 32 32 - 34 35 - 37 38 - 41 43 - 45
NECK 14 - 14.5 15 - 15.5 16 - 16.5 17 - 17.5 18 - 18.5
SLEEVE 32.5 33.5 34.5 35.5 36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE

Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.

BUST / CHEST

Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.

WAIST

Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.

LOW WAIST

Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.

HIPS

Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.

NECK

Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.

SLEEVE

Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.

INSEAM

Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.

 

Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.

For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.

For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.

See buckle/tie belt size standards below.

WOMEN S M L XL  
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
inches 26 - 30 28 - 32 31 - 35 34 - 38 38 - 42
cm 76 - 86 81.5 - 91.5 86.5 - 96.5 91.5 - 101.5 96.5 - 106.5

+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm

MEN S M L XL XXL
inches 30 - 34 32 - 36 35 - 39 39 - 43 43 - 47
cm 81.5 - 91.5 86.5 - 96.5 91.5 - 101.5 96.5 - 106.5 109 - 119

+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm

Sash tie length

Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.

Belt with buckle

Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.

Belt without buckle

Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.

Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!

DOWNLOAD

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