Reconstructing Craft: The Convergence of Leather and Lacquer

This project addresses the lack of modernization in two traditional crafts in Yangzhou, China. By combining these unrelated crafts, a unique vessel is created. This design not only facilitates the integration of local crafts with innovation but also reduces unnecessary logistical carbon emissions from traditional cross-city production through local manufacturing and sales processes. The vessels are crafted by shaping leather and applying lacquer on the surface. The innovative combination of leather shaping and lacquer techniques creates an intriguing material illusion, where the vessels appear to be leather but feel like lacquerware. In terms of the crafting process, after shaping two pieces of leather, lacquer is applied to the inner side of the leather and polished to a matte finish to ensure waterproofing. This creates an interesting contrast in texture with the smooth lacquer on the outer side. The structure of the outer lacquer is carefully developed through multiple experiments to preserve and enhance the unique texture of the leather, resulting in a distinctive and tactile quality.