Old Designers, New Age Cities

Fancy chests, minimalist lacquerware and striking porcelain — all painstakingly handcrafted by current-generation artisans who refuse to let their heritage fade into obscurity.

- Charmian Leong

The old and arduous way can be romantic. But in an era of technology and mass production, it is time-consuming and cost-inefficient. That's why luxury conglomerates talk a big game about heritage and all the ways they help keep rare handcrafts alive. But they're not the only ones fighting the good fight. We meet three designers who have been quietly but diligently safeguarding their centuries-old legacies and traditions.

MONMAYA

Of the many design trends humanity has enjoyed over centuries, minimalism arguably has the most staying power. In an increasingly noisy world, stripping things down seems to be the most popular way to perceive beauty, but it can get boring

Extravagant details and embellishments are the delightful calling cards of old-world luxury and we should not dismiss them in the name of decluttering. At Monmaya, it can take several months to make one Sendai tansu – highly ornamented chests favoured by samurai and royalty that originated in the 15th century.

Three weeks for woodworking, three months for painting, followed by one week for the metal fittings, explains Kazuhiro Monma, the company's seventh-generation successor.

These tansu from Sendai are prized for a reason. The front panel uses zelkova while the interiors employ paulownia and cedar, materials that are all excellent for controlling humidity. A lacquer technique known as kijironuri helps the artisans achieve a mirror finish on the wood, but it is a very advanced technique used only for Sendai tansu, and it involves over 30 processes, notes Monma. “Not a single speck of dust is allowed.” Finally, the metal fittings are decorated with elaborate three-dimensional patterns of dragons, peonies, and other auspicious motifs.