The trays are crafted from wenge, a rare hardwood chosen for its almost black colour and refined grain. Its deep tone provides a striking backdrop for the Japanese lacquer, urushi, produced in Tokyo for this project by Urushi Master Kazumi Murose.

Applying coloured urushi to wenge presented a particular challenge. The trays' finely angled edges required the lacquer to be applied entirely by hand, demanding exceptional precision to achieve a flawless finish without marking the surrounding timber. The soft grey lacquer was developed especially for this project, as grey has no precedent in the traditional urushi palette.

In keeping with Japanese craft tradition, significant lacquer works are presented in handcrafted timber boxes. Each tray is accompanied by a bespoke presentation box, made in Japan.

Collaborating with Kazumi Murose on this project was a rare privilege, bringing contemporary design into dialogue with one of Japan's most distinguished craft traditions.

Materials:
Solid Wenge, Red Urushi
Dimensions:
3 x [H 32mm, W 400mm, L 400mm]