Art Deco Ovoid Lacquered Vase by Jean Dunand.
A lacquered brass vase by French Designer Jean Dunand (1877-1942). The vase is inlaid with eggshells in a triangular pattern radiating from the opening.
Image courtesy 1st Dibs
Jean Dunand met Seizo Sugawara in 1912. Dunand, the French metalsmith, and Sugawara, the Japanese master artisan with a specialty in lacquerware, decided to exchange workshop secrets. What then became Dunand’s lacquerware technique went on to become quintessentially Art Deco, and Dunand’s distinctive designs were translated onto screens, tables and vases that are today among the most collectible pieces from this era.
At SLI, we know well Dunand and his use of eggshells integrated into the body of ceramics, so we began to explore the possibilities. Both Frank Pollaro and Atelier Midavaine have the exceptional artisans of today whom are able to produce versions of this taking craft using egg shell pieces of varied colors that are placed individually on a surface. These applications can, of course, vary widely in spacing to create a myriad of designs.
Detail by Dunand
Image courtesy 1st Dibs
Detail view of eggshell inlay by Frank Pollaro
Image courtesy of Frank Pollaro
Another wonderful detail view of eggshell inlay by Frank Pollaro
Image courtesy of Frank Pollaro
Console table with eggshell inlay tops by Atelier Midavaine
Image courtesy of Atelier Midavaine
Detail view of console table top (image above), taken by Suzanne while visiting Atelier Midavaine’s studio in Paris.
Image courtesy of Suzanne Lovell
Working with eggshell
Image courtesy of Alexander Lamont