Urushi Maple Leaf Billiard with Bamboo and Tamper Tobacco Pipe

Urushi can refer to both to the incredibly durable lacquer that is created from the sap of the Asian sumac or to the totality of the completed product. Some Urushi products can take up to a year and a half to complete. The beautiful patterns that you see fall into the "maki-e" subcategory of Urushi creation. Meticulous renderings are created on ultra-thin paper and then an outline is traced in Urushi on the reverse side, the "wet" side is applied to a dry Urushi surface and adhesion provides the outline of the elevated forms to come. This lovely, classically shaped Billiard comes with its own bamboo tamper.
- Ted Swearingen