Pleiades Collection: where the metalwork traditions of Europe and the lacquerwork methods of Japan align

This is the story of the creation of a collection of vases that was in the heart and mind of #alexanderlamont for many years. He longed to try his hand at designing objects of intrigue and movement using techniques that marry the metalwork traditions of Europe and the lacquerwork methods of #japan. Alexander was deeply inspired by the techniques of Jean Dunand that he had seen first in the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, and later in galleries on the rue de Seine and in the famous Christies sale of Yves Saint-Laurent’s personal collection in 2009. Jean Dunand’s body of work includes many examples of metal vases in simple hammered forms decorated with precious metals, patination and later, after Dunand was introduced to the Japanese lacquer artist Sugiwara by Eileen Gray, with the urushi and eggshell of Asian tradition. In his own words Alexander describes the process of creating the Pleiades Collection:

“Working with lacquer and eggshell, I explored ways to bring concepts of planets, constellations and celestial charts onto vessels. Cast vessels, cool and heavy, were the canvas. I drew triangles dancing like the shapes of star clusters; the splash of solar nebulae and wholly covered, porcelain spinning planets with black or red fissures. I drew across the sand-blasted dinanderie surfaces and visited the lacquer rooms each day to watch as the eggshell and abalone and lacquer followed my sketches and an almost monochrome polished eloquence came to life. The kite-string-like floating deltoids of bright or faded clusters, the energy of the strokes and lines of stars were full of movement and distance; the luminosity of the covering mosaics and the mesmerizing reflectiveness and depth of the natural lacquer all brought a vibrant anima to the vases. Alone, in groups and as pairs they evoke the lightness and blackness of the night skies.”

Alexander Lamont