Black and Green Xipi Lacquer Dome Stud Earrings

$1,480.00

Handcrafted to order. Leaves our bench by Thursday, 8 Oct

Complimentary shipping on orders over 300.0 USD

Made by hand — final sale. Cancel within 24 hours, before it ships. Shipping & cancellations

A black lacquer sphere, marbled with green and pale lines, hangs from a large smooth gold ball stud on each earring. Small chips of mother-of-pearl sit in the pattern, and a tiny gold cap finishes the base of each sphere.

Each sphere is built on a sandalwood core in layers of coloured natural lacquer, set with mother-of-pearl and polished back to reveal the marbled xipi pattern. Because every piece is made by hand, the colour and pattern vary a little from pair to pair, and photographs are for reference.

Photographs are for reference only. Each piece is made by hand, so its colour and pattern will differ a little from the one shown.

The story
In xipi lacquer, layers of coloured lacquer are built up and then polished back until a marbled pattern shows through from beneath. For these earrings the maker works black and green layers over a sandalwood core, sets small chips of mother-of-pearl into the pattern and polishes each sphere down to its marbling. The spheres hang close below large smooth 14k gold ball studs, each finished with a tiny gold cap. The marbling differs from sphere to sphere, so no two pairs are quite alike.
Materials
Xipi lacquer
Natural lacquer (dàqī)
14k gold findings
Sandalwood core
Mother-of-pearl inlay (luodian)
Size: Approx. 1 × 2.5 cm
Weight: Approx. 7.8 g
Technique
Coloured natural lacquer is built up in layers over a sandalwood core, mother-of-pearl is inlaid in the luodian manner, and the surface is polished back to reveal the marbled xipi pattern.
Care
Keep dry and away from perfume, lotion and heat. Do not leave in strong sunlight. Wipe with a soft dry cloth. Store alone in its pouch.
Shipping & cancellations

Complimentary shipping on orders over $300. Ready-to-ship pieces leave the bench within 3 working days; pieces handcrafted to order take up to two weeks. The date for this piece is shown above.

Cancel within 24 hours of ordering, as long as it has not shipped. Each piece is made by hand, so all sales are final: no returns or exchanges for a change of mind. Full details

  • Pair of black and green marbled lacquer sphere earrings hanging from large gold ball studs on an ivory background
  • Black and green xipi lacquer bead earring hanging from a polished gold dome stud, worn with a linen shirt