"Dragon-Pattern Caisson" — Petal-Form Lacquer Plate

Dragon-Pattern Caisson — Petal-Form Lacquer Plate

Look up in the Dunhuang Mogao Caves and you will find the caisson ceiling — a geometric canopy of dragons, lotuses, and celestial patterns that has presided over sacred space for over a thousand years. This plate brings that ceiling down to earth.

Shaped like an open flower, the petal form echoes the organic geometry of Tang Dynasty decorative art. The dragon motif is rendered with precision and depth in natural lacquer over a paper and linen body — a technique that has been refined across centuries of Chinese craft tradition. At Ø250mm, it works equally as a display piece, a ceremonial object, or a quiet focal point on a wall or shelf.

• Material: Natural lacquer, paper, tile ash, tin powder, linen fabric
• Construction: Paper body lacquerware — natural lacquer built over layers of paper and linen fabric
• Dimensions: Ø250 × H10mm
• Motif: Dragon-pattern caisson — inspired by Tang Dynasty ceiling art of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves
• Origin: Handcrafted by YQ Lacquer (乙漆), Guangzhou, China
• Edition: Each piece is unique — variations in colour and surface are inherent to the craft

No two pieces are identical. The variations in lacquer depth, colour, and surface texture are not imperfections — they are the signature of a living craft.