#2 BRAND
qīqíqǐqì brand transforms the studio’s explorations into everyday experiences. Centering on natural lacquer as its core material, it develops functional objects such as homeware and jewellery.
The brand creates sensory tension through paradoxical qualities that appear metallic yet remain lightweight, awakening a primal tactile connection between people and materials.
In an age where technology continually smooths over perception, qīqíqǐqì seeks to rekindle memory of touch and embodied experience.
Horsehair brushes are valued for their balanced texture, soft yet resilient, with a natural elasticity. They serve as practical tools for daily use, as well as ornamental objects or thoughtful gifts.
Each brush is bound and reinforced with natural lacquer over a rope core, giving it strength, durability, and a gentle sheen.
In Chinese tradition, the horse symbolises strength, vitality and unceasing energy. Its mane and tail hair are believed to carry protective powers, associated with yang energy that wards off negative influences. For centuries, small brushes or ornaments made from horsehair have been hung at doorways or beside cradles as talismans of protection and peace.
Our main series includes vases, trays, cups, and brooches. Though their surfaces suggest a metallic weight, each piece is astonishingly light, most weigh under 100 grams, with some as little as 30 grams.
Linen fabric is sewn, twisted, and compressed to form intuitive shapes, allowing the material’s own tension and rhythm to guide the form. Multiple layers of natural lacquer are then applied, each permeating the fibres, hardening the surface, and transforming the softness of cloth into resilience and durability, while preserving every crease and texture.
Reinterpreting traditional techniques, we experiment with finishes such as Ishime-nuri (a granular, stone-like texture) and Rōgin-nuri (a subtle metallic sheen). Applied to the fabric surface, these methods retain the pliability and tactility of textiles while adding distinctive functionality. The works are not only practical, but also water-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and acid-resistant.
Lacquer paper is made by combining natural lacquer with handmade paper. The lacquer penetrates the paper fibers, strengthening them and giving the paper exceptional toughness, resistance to moisture and corrosion, and excellent impermeability, making it suitable for long-term preservation. Its surface has a gentle matte finish with a smooth, warm touch. Each sheet is handmade, with edges that reveal a natural irregularity.
lacquered paper can withstand repeated reworking and modification. It lends itself to folding and three-dimensional construction, and when combined with pastel pigments, it produces a soft, mist-like atmosphere. It also performs well with a wide range of media, including acrylic, oil, gouache, and coloured pencil. The dense surface ensures stable adhesion and fluid blending of pigments.