max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london’s springfield park

 

 

 

urushiol is an organic oily liquid extracted from trees which stands as the main constituent of urushi lacquer, an craft technique that has a strong cultural significance in wajima, in the ishikawa prefecture of japan. one of the most naturally durable finishes known, it is often used for decorative applications onto furniture pieces or small tableware items such as bowls. british designer max lamb has formed a bench and stool from cleft chestnut found in london’s springfield park and varnished the two pieces with urushi lacquer. the bulky objects which lamb has chiseled down to his desired size and shape, maintaining the roughness of his handiwork – opposing the clean minimalistic designs of typical urushi lacquerware – the textured surfaces of the seating furniture offering a contrast to the sleek, glossy finish of the lacquer.

max lamb urushi lacquer bench designboom front view of the bench

max lamb urushi lacquer bench designboom detail

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park ‘urushi bench and stool’

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park ‘urushi stool’

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park the bench and stool partway through the lacquering process

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park top view

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park stool before lacquering

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park up close of the roughly finished furniture pieces

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park alternative detail of the bench’s chiseled surface

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park craftsman finishing lamb’s bench in urushi lacquer

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park bench in the workshop during the chiseling phase

max lamb crafts urushi lacquer bench + stool from cleft chestnut found in london's springfield park detail of the chiseled surface