Interior Designers' Affection for Lacquer Furnishings and Guidance on Their Integration into Home Decor
In the heart of Vietnam, a centuries-old tradition known as Son Mai lacquerware has found new life in the 21st century. This unique art form, with its deep historical roots and distinctive production process, has evolved to become a popular choice in contemporary interior design.
Son Mai lacquerware originated in Vietnam and gained prominence in the 1930s, during a period when Hanoi’s École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine fostered a cultural fusion between French and Vietnamese art forms. This era marked the transformation of traditional lacquer painting into a unique hybrid that is neither purely Eastern nor Western, defining modern Vietnamese art. Son Mai lacquer is part of this development alongside silk painting.
Historically, Son Mai involved using natural lacquer from the Rhus Verniciflua tree, which grows in northern Vietnam. The sap is harvested in small quantities (approximately 200ml per tree) during June and July and is prized for having the highest gloss quality among natural lacquers worldwide.
The production process is meticulous and labour-intensive, requiring great patience, skill, and attention to detail. Artists apply multiple layers of natural lacquer to a wooden or metal base, each layer carefully dried and polished before the next application, often totaling ten or more layers. Natural materials like eggshell, mother of pearl, and cinnabar are incorporated into the lacquer to create intricate designs and colours with extraordinary depth and luminosity.
Today, Son Mai lacquer is widely used beyond traditional crafts and fine art. It serves as a luxurious decorative medium in modern interior design, providing surfaces for furniture, wall panels, and decorative objects. Its unique qualities—such as a high gloss finish, durability, and the ability to embed natural elements—make Son Mai lacquerware popular for creating sophisticated, luminous interiors that blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.
James Lowther, the founder of The Lacquer Company, explains that the punchy colours of lacquer furniture create texture and add personality to an interior. American interior designer Miles Redd agrees, stating that the reflections in rich dark colours of lacquer give life and modernity to a traditional space. Rita Konig, another designer, used pieces from The Lacquer Company in a coffee-coloured sitting room to bring both interesting forms and rich colour to the scheme.
The Lacquer Company collaborates with top interior designers to produce new pieces, and James Lowther, who discovered lacquer in 1999 during a trip to Burma, believes that lacquerwork, whether ancient or contemporary, holds its own in any interior. In fact, he states that their Son Mai Lacquer is surprisingly resilient, despite the misconception that lacquer is fragile.
Antique lacquer may have faded colour, dulled gloss, and some characterful chips and scratches, but James believes this is part of the charm. He notes that the glossy lacquer pieces bought today may end up as the characterful antiques of a few centuries hence. Duncan Campbell finds the hand-polished lacquer surface particularly satisfying for its ability to bring freshness to an interior.
Lacquer is versatile and can be used in both traditional and modern interiors. Veere suggests that lacquer work, whether ancient or contemporary, holds its own in any interior. With its rich history, intricate production process, and versatile applications, Son Mai lacquerware continues to shine as a beacon of cultural heritage and artistic innovation in the world of interior design.
- In contemporary interior design, Son Mai lacquerware, a unique hybrid of French and Vietnamese art forms, is popularly used as a luxurious decorative medium, adorning furniture, wall panels, and decorative objects.
- James Lowther, the founder of The Lacquer Company, asserts that Son Mai Lacquer, whether ancient or contemporary, can effortlessly blend traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, adding texture, personality, and a touch of cultural heritage to any interior.
- American interior designer Miles Redd believes that the reflections in rich dark colors of lacquer give life and modernity to a traditional space, while Rita Konig incorporates pieces from The Lacquer Company in her designs to bring both interesting forms and rich color to her schemes.
