Handcrafted Blue and Black Lacquered Bowl from Thailand, "Blue Floral Forest"

Glossy mango wood hosts a forest of flowers in a work of art by Nantana Sompamitre This exquisite bowl is lacquered inside and out; the blue blossoms are etched by hand. She lathes the mango wood into the desired shape and coats it with lacquer. When dry, it is polished, and another coat is applied – up to twenty times – before as many six coats of pure lacquer are applied. The final layer is polished with powdered fired clay.