Asian Lacquer Expertise
How a printing error brought Asian lacquer to S.T. Dupont
S.T. Dupont has a long tradition in the art of goldsmithery, which has become one of the Maison’s areas of expertise, as illustrated in its lighter collections.
Looking for an artisan specialising in gilding to join their team of “fellows”, the Dupont brothers published a job advertisement in the local paper. However, a printing error left the word “plaquer” [plater] appearing as “laqueur” [lacquer]! As a result, a Russian artisan, Novossiltzeff, contacted the Dupont brothers about his technique of applying Asian lacquer.
Recognising the potential, the Maison S.T. Dupont learnt the secret of applying Asian lacquer to metal and helped pass on this craftsmanship, thus creating a team of master lacquerers.
Still today, in a quest for perfection, the master lacquerers travel through South Asia, searching for the best sap secreted by the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree, which is tapped by hand and aged and mixed, much like great wines
