Hello
We create beautiful lacquered items for the home in vibrant, eye-catching colours reflecting the intensity of Cornish landscapes and her glittering seas.
All our objects are unique. Each one is crafted by hand; they are imbued with care and love.
Our values are important to us. Wabisabi values craftsmanship, skill, longevity and character; and the time it takes to create our products.
We are the antithesis of identikit factory produced items. We insist on local traceability and sustainability. And we are delighted to see others beginning to value the character of imperfection over the idea of ‘perfect’ - it’s often our flaws that make each of us, and our objects, beautifully unique.
Our Story
I am often asked “why trays”, “why lacquer”or “how on earth did you get into this”?
Aren’t we all curious about the people behind the brand or the product we like the look of, and wonder about the journey they've been on before arriving at this point.
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Whether you’re looking to understand the value in them or are trying to see the maker in their creation, you can bet it hasn’t been a straightforward line from the start of their journey to the product in your trolley. Our lives are messy; there are dead ends, u-turns, cliff edges, and plenty of starts and stops, all of which are punctuated by mini “Yay”s. This journey, has been no different.
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I started creating, painting and lacquering trays as a hobby, making gifts for friends and family, more of an expensive hobby that slowly began to take over the kitchen table and my garden shed and fitted in and around the lives of my young children. I made hundreds of mistakes alongside moments of inspiration, designing, sanding, painting, lacquering and plenty of polishing. Whilst I was happy with the end results, I could’t strike a work life balance and after an injury put me out of action for an extended period I fostered partnerships with other local skilled makers with shared values, and together they help me create the Wabi Sabi Lacquer products.
I am always drawn to bold colours and eye-catching combinations and have always had a noticeable weakness for beautiful shiny things that capture or reflect the light. Hence my love of lacquer, and of Cornwall’s glittery coastline where I have been lucky enough to spend most of my life.
Why Wabi Sabi?
Why Wabisabi? This venerated, ancient Japanese philosophy and aesthetic promotes the beauty of accepting transience and imperfection: in life, in ourselves, in objects around us.
Perfectly imperfect, therein lies the beauty.
Our exquisite trays in sparkling, original colours will each become a vintage treasure over the fullness of time. As they age, they will tell their story in the patina as the lacquer polish matures. Every abrasion, mark and flaw reflecting the journey.
Every scar shows we have lived; makes us who we are; giving us and the objects we love, character and interest.
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After all, there is no charm in perfection, but there is honesty in our flaws.