Eroded Wave Tansu Cabinet

This cabinet is an early 20th century kiri (pawlonia) tansu finished in lacquered woven-straw marquetry. This Tansu forms part of an on-going ‘conversation’ between the simple, traditional furniture of Japan and the special surfaces developed in the Alexander Lamont studio.

The Eroded Straw Marquetry Tansu has both an exacting and random pattern made by the building-up of layers of straw marquetry in different directions. The effect of this is to create surfaces that are beautiful to-the-touch, and also visually striking in how the light is reflected. Different tones and colours create another layer of visual intricacy. The aim is to make a unified and harmonious surface using our unique skills and ideas – a surface reminiscent of the flooded helds of central Thailand when observed from above.

“We realized that the surface patterning emerged from the straw – a glimmering linearity that would never have been visible without the slow work and the fact of the lacquer ‘flooding’ and holding the straw in place. The real beauty for me is how the patterning changes slightly with some areas remaining under the lacquer and others ‘burning’ through a little; the perfection of abstract artistic craftsmanship.” - Alexander Lamont