TENYAYÎ URUSHI
This jug from the Kami collection is more than just a vessel. It reflects the human experience of holding and releasing emotions and memories over time. Inspired by the ancient water bags of the Middle East, traditionally crafted from animal skins, the jug reimagines this form with a modern sensibility.
Water, like emotion, can flow freely or be contained. It carves pathways in both the physical world and within us. The jug embodies this duality: it holds what nurtures or overwhelms, and it releases what transforms us. In this way, it mirrors the solitude and silence of being underwater. That quiet invites introspection and allows thoughts and feelings to rest in stillness.
Crafted from sustainable materials and finished with Japanese Urushi lacquer, the jug’s deep blue tones evoke the erosion caused by water over time. It is a testament to resilience and change. The design bridges cultural narratives. It honors the tradition of carrying water and Japan’s reverence for purification (harai). Harai is a ritual that cleanses and renews both body and spirit.
With its graceful form and textured surface, the jug invites reflection on how we carry what matters most: memories, feelings, and connections. Like water, these elements flow through us. Sometimes in solitude, sometimes shared, they shape who we are and how we move through the world.
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Materials
100 % Urushi Lacquer
Dimensions
CM W 17 x H 17 x D 8
IN W 6.69 x H 6.69 x D 3.15
Edition details
Edition of 7
+ AP
Price & Lead Time
On request
16 / 20 weeks
Year
2025
Weight
Kg -
Lbs -
Download
-
Transport
Incl Shipping Crate
Excl Trasport
MAKING OF TENYAYÎ
The technique is made by mixing black lacquer with proteins derived from tofu to made a pasty substance reminiscent of texture paint. After evenly distributing this across the object using brushes, lines are drawn into to surface by using a fine comb. This creates a pattern of raised lines that is left to dry. Afterwards, the entire surface is coated three times with a mixture of raw lacquer and finely ground clay to fully immerse the black lacquer coating. Finally, the entire surface is carefully polished flush to reveal the lines of the black lacquer from below the stone-like topcoats. This creates a unique wabi-sabi effect that appears similar to Asian pottery, and urges the viewer to experience the surface of the object through touch.
MAKING OF TENYAYÎ
The technique is made by mixing black lacquer with proteins derived from tofu to made a pasty substance reminiscent of texture paint. After evenly distributing this across the object using brushes, lines are drawn into to surface by using a fine comb. This creates a pattern of raised lines that is left to dry. Afterwards, the entire surface is coated three times with a mixture of raw lacquer and finely ground clay to fully immerse the black lacquer coating. Finally, the entire surface is carefully polished flush to reveal the lines of the black lacquer from below the stone-like topcoats. This creates a unique wabi-sabi effect that appears similar to Asian pottery, and urges the viewer to experience the surface of the object through touch.
TENYAYÎ URUSHI
Because we work extensively with natural materials, each piece carries its own variation in tone, texture, and finish. These nuances are not flaws but qualities that give each object its unique presence. Over time, materials may shift or age, a process we embrace and can help you navigate.
TENYAYÎ URUSHI
Because we work extensively with natural materials, each piece carries its own variation in tone, texture, and finish. These nuances are not flaws but qualities that give each object its unique presence. Over time, materials may shift or age, a process we embrace and can help you navigate.