Garnier & Linker’s “KAMI” Collection Explores the Poetic Nature of Urushi Lacquer
Featuring tables, consoles, cabinets to lighting fixtures.
Paris-based design studio, Garnier & Linker has unveiled their newest collection, “KAMI,” featuring furniture made with Japanese Urushi lacquer.
Founded by French designer duo, Guillaume Garnier and Florent Linker, the studio is known for infusing contemporary design into rare materials and traditional craftsmanship. Their creations, handmade by French master craftsmen in small series, are inspired by decorative arts and sculpture, resulting in pure-shaped forms that highlight the material’s essence.
The “KAMI” collection delves into the intricate Urushi lacquer technique, showcasing its application on furniture such as tables, consoles and cabinets, as well as lighting fixtures. Lacquering involves polishing the support and applying successive layers of Urushi — a process demanding exceptional skill. The collection focuses on experimental finishes that emphasize transparency, relief and material interaction, with the deliberate rounded shapes of the pieces designed to capture and reflect light through the brilliance of the lacquer.
Expanding on their previous works, Garnier & Linker’s “KAMI” collection includes models from the ”KITAYAMA” furniture line, initially presented in 2016 and expanded in 2022, now available in Urushi lacquer. Additionally, traditional Japanese pewter shaping techniques are incorporated, resulting in elegant lamp shades for table lamps.
Through the new collection, the studio aims to deepen its collaboration with Japanese craftsmanship, thus drawing inspiration from historic partnerships such as Jean Dunand’s apprenticeship with lacquerer Seizo Sugawara and Charlotte Perriand’s cross-cultural collections between France and Japan from the 1940s onward. This collection exemplifies a rich dialogue between traditional Japanese techniques and modern design, celebrating the artistry and heritage of Urushi lacquer.
For more information, visit Garnier & Linker’s official website.
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