Shinya Yamamura leaves no expanse unadorned. Coated with black urushi lacquer—made from tree sap—the flawlessly rounded keyaki elm body is ornamented with opalescent abalone shells in handcrafted spirals like whirlpool eddies. Each layer must be left to dry in a humid environment for at least a day before being smoothed with successive burnishing stones of varying hardness.

Lacquer