Material
PARCHMENT
Parchment is an exotic hide and widely used in the Art Deco period, particularly in Paris. Made from goat skin, parchment is used as a luxury alternative to veneers to cover pieces of art and furniture. True parchment can be identified by the stripe that is found on the back of a goat, lending the material a unique artistic aesthetic.
SHAGREEN
Shagreen is the skin of a stingray. First used to make sword handles by the Turks and Japanese, it later became fashionable as a furniture material during the Art Deco period in the 1920s and 1930s. Its unique texture is today revered as a luxury finish for delicate
high-end decorative objects and furniture.
BRONZE
With its ability to remain strong while remaining flexible, bronze is the only metal which can truly reflect the artist’s passion. From the past to the present, bronze has been used to portray nobility and luxury. While many metals reflect a sense of coldness and rigidity, bronze portrays a sensual warmth.
LACQUER
Lacquer and gilding are ancient art techniques from Asia, which were used extensively during the Ayutthaya period. Developed and made popular under the reign of King Rama III in Siam, lacquer and gilding were used in the making of furniture, door panels and pieces depicting the image of Buddha.
GESSO
Gesso is an ivory-coloured lacquered surface with delicate black lines. It can be used for panels, furniture and mirror frames and lends a look of natural luxury. MUSE artisans apply a white lacquer to a smooth surface and during the drying process delicately crack the surface by hand.
These cracks run naturally and randomly. The item is then hand sanded up to six time to complete the process. What emerges is a clean, shiny ivory-colored surface that resembles an ivory tusk.