Large lacquered console table, part of a new collection; 1970s table lamps; 1950s chairs, all by Talisman.
At London design store Talisman, Ken Bolan has spent two years tracking down the craftsmen to realise its first collection of furniture, all of which has been designed in house. The results were worth the wait.
The nine-piece collection marks a big step for Talisman, which specialises in 18th-to 20th-century antiques and art. The company felt the time was right to add its own designs to its hand-sourced hoard.
The furniture features contemporary shapes and understated design, each piece adorned with a cracked, lacquer finish, lending a certain air of antique grandeur. A team of 12 Beijing-based craftsmen use ancient methods of lacquering, coating the furniture repeatedly in tree sap, then letting it harden in the natural humidity over a six-week period. Lastly, their signature cracking effect is carefully administered.
Each piece comes in a range of colours, with bespoke alterations possible, so the finished item fits an interior perfectly. We love the console table is sea green-its elegant colour, detailed finish and delicate, neat shape makes it a classically modern complement to a wooden floor.