Product Details

These are documented museum-quality examples of mid-century Taiwanese lacquer art by the lineage of Lai Koa-shan. These were found in a very old storage unit, new in a bag with the tags. PLEASE NOTE THE TAG WILL COME WITH IT, THE ORIGINAL BAG WAS DIRTY AND IS NOT INCLUDED. "Guri Lacquer," "Tsuishu," "Layered Lacquerware," and "Vintage Taiwan Export" are used alongside the "T-Stone". FINDING THESE AT ALL, LET ALONE NEW WITH A TAG, IS UNHEARD OF. This isn't just an anonymous export company; the technique and the brand are tied directly to Lai Kao-shan, a legendary Taiwanese artisan from Taichung who is widely celebrated for modernizing traditional lacquerware. In the mid-20th century, Lai Kao-shan improved upon ancient Chinese Dui Zhu (carved red lacquer) techniques. He layered multiple, vibrant colors of natural lacquer and carved them at sharp angles to create a glossy, gemstone-like look. When these beautiful, striped pieces successfully entered the export market in the 1960s and 1970s, they were marketed under the name "Lacquer Stone"—which was shortened commercially to "T-Stone" (the "T" standing for Taiwan). The fashion and design worlds experienced a massive Art Deco Revival. Manufacturers globally scrambled to produce jewelry that mirrored the geometric, bold look of the 20s but utilized modern manufacturing and export channels. "T-Stone" took a centuries-old Asian lacquer technique and expertly adapted it to fit right into this retro-revival trend.