Emperor Penguin Lacquered Ceramic Sculpture by Golem

Established in 2015 by designer Mauro de Morais, Golem Ceramics Design is a collection of decorative lacquered ceramics that are hand-made. The state-of-art contemporary ceramics are coated in lacquer, which is a fascinating and very special material that requires technical and specialist knowledge. Lacquerware is a unique form of craftsmanship brought into the ceramics field to produce everything from everyday ornaments, decorative accessories to museum quality pieces. The craftsman who produces such ultramodern pieces is dedicated to the ancient Japanese lacquer tradition but also to modern developments which allow for the use of new materials or techniques that have mostly been self-developed. One of the main differences between a ceramic piece glazed in a kiln and a lacquered one consists in the time needed to obtain the finished piece. Glazed pieces are fired in one day whereas many weeks are needed for coating and decorating with lacquer, permanently maintaining the quality of a very delicate and crafted work. Golem reveals the art of lacquer, its mysteries and difficulties, the respect for the material and the honour of craftsmanship. The choice of lacquer is motivated by its unique and unrivalled qualities, its third dimension, depth, transparency and aesthetical pleasures which are deeply sensual.