Black Xipi Lacquer Sphere and Coin Earrings

$1,481.00

Handcrafted to order. Leaves our bench by Friday, 9 Oct

Complimentary shipping on orders over 300.0 USD

Made by hand. Cancel within 24 hours, before it ships; no returns for a change of mind. Shipping & returns

A small round drop of black xipi lacquer hangs beneath an openwork 18k gold coin-flower charm, a cash-coin motif with a four-pointed centre. The lacquer is marbled with fine veins of gold and pale flecks of mother-of-pearl, and each earring hangs from a rounded 14k gold ear hook.

Layers of coloured natural lacquer are built up by hand and polished back to reveal the marbled xipi pattern, with mother-of-pearl set into the surface. Because each piece is made by hand, 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
Xipi lacquer is made by building up many thin layers of coloured natural lacquer and polishing them back until the layers show as a marbled pattern. On this small black sphere the maker brings up fine veins of gold and sets pale flecks of mother-of-pearl (luodian) into the surface, so each bead has its own markings. It hangs from an openwork gold coin-flower charm on a rounded hook, a light pair for everyday wear.
Materials
14k gold ear hooks
18k gold coin-flower charm
Xipi lacquer
Natural lacquer (dàqī)
Mother-of-pearl inlay (luodian)
Size: Approx. 1 × 4 cm
Weight: Approx. 4.5 g
Technique
Xipi lacquer: layers of coloured natural lacquer are built up, then polished back to reveal a marbled pattern. Fragments of mother-of-pearl are inlaid into the lacquer surface (luodian).
Care
Keep dry and away from perfume, lotion and heat. Do not leave in strong sunlight. Wipe with a soft dry cloth and store alone in its pouch.
Shipping & returns

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 been fulfilled. Orders delivered to the EU can be returned within 14 days of delivery; you pay the return shipping and a 5% return admin fee. Elsewhere, each piece is made by hand, so all sales are final: no returns or exchanges for a change of mind. Final-sale pieces cannot be cancelled or returned. Full details

  • Pair of black xipi lacquer sphere earrings with gold marbling and mother-of-pearl flecks, hanging from 18k gold coin-flower charms on 14k gold ear hooks, on an ivory background
  • Black xipi lacquer sphere with gold flecks below a gold coin-flower charm on a gold hook, worn with a linen shirt