Black Gold-Leaf Oval Lacquer Chain Earrings

$1,160.00

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 flat oval of black lacquer, scattered with flakes of gold and silver-toned leaf, hangs from a long, fine chain of small beads below a gold ball stud. A small gold-tone square, set point-down, sits near the base of each oval.

The oval is built on a sandalwood core, with leaf laid between coats of natural lacquer and polished smooth. Every piece is made by hand, so the scatter of leaf differs from one earring to the other and 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
When leaf is set between coats of lacquer rather than on top, it sits inside the colour and is protected by the layers above it. For these earrings the maker shapes a flat sandalwood oval, builds up black natural lacquer and scatters gold and silver-toned leaf across it by hand before polishing it smooth. The ovals hang on long, fine bead chains from gold ball studs and move freely when worn. The leaf falls differently on every oval, so no two pairs are quite alike.
Materials
Gold leaf
Natural lacquer (dàqī)
14k gold findings (ball studs)
Sandalwood core
Two-tone bead chain (gold-tone links and gunmetal-grey beads)
Set with a small gold-tone square
Size: Approx. 1.2 × 6 cm
Weight: Approx. 2.8 g
Technique
Leaf is laid into layers of natural lacquer over a shaped sandalwood core, and the surface is polished smooth.
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 long chain drop earrings with flat black oval lacquer pendants flecked with gold and silver leaf, on gold ball studs against an ivory background
  • Black lacquer oval with gold and silver leaf and a small gold square, on a long gold-and-gunmetal bead chain from a ball stud, worn with a linen shirt