Handcrafted Chinese lacquer memorial urn with gold dragon ornament and gilded clasp, photographed on a warm paper ground

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URN ATELIER

Luxury Memorial Art Collection

Handcrafted Chinese Lacquer Urns

Bespoke Memorial Art & Private Commissions

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The Collections

Four houses of lacquer

Each collection is a distinct register of the same craft — from protected tradition to quiet minimalism. Every piece is shaped, lacquered, painted and polished by hand.

Heritage Collection — Phoenix Court Lacquer Urn, a central phoenix encircled by birds and flowering branches in gold line on deep lacquer

I

Heritage Collection

Rooted in Chinese craftsmanship, carrying the language of tradition into contemporary memorial art.

Signature
Inlay & relief gold
Works
HC-001 — HC-009
Obsidian Collection — Celestial Pavilion Lacquer Urn, gold mountains, cloud seas and pavilions drawn across black lacquer

II

Obsidian Collection

Forms shaped by continuity, ritual and the quiet presence of traditional lacquer.

Signature
Mineral pigment painting
Works
OC-001 — OC-013
Grace Collection — Magnolia Tribute Lacquer Urn, magnolia branches opening in white against black lacquer

III

Grace Collection

Gentle forms created to hold memory with warmth, tenderness and quiet beauty.

Signature
Floral & pearl detail
Works
GC-001 — GC-007
Eternal Collection — Quiet Black and Gold Lacquer Urn, a concise field of gold ornament on pure black lacquer

IV

Eternal Collection

Made to preserve what endures — stories, values and memories passed from one generation to the next.

Signature
Black & gold restraint
Works
EC-001 — EC-010

02  Craftsmanship

The Art of Memory

Handcrafted Chinese lacquer urns from China.

URN ATELIER brings together traditional Chinese lacquer craftsmanship, fine woodworking and contemporary memorial design. Each piece is shaped, assembled, lacquered, painted and finished by hand — preserving the patience, precision and symbolic beauty of an enduring artisan heritage.

  1. 01

    Fine Wood Structure

    Premium wood framework crafted with precision, ensuring strength, stability and timeless elegance.

  2. 02

    Traditional Lacquer Craft

    Layered finishing, line work and polishing.

  3. 03

    Gold Detailing

    Hand-painted and hand-finished decorative elements.

Close view of a lacquer urn body showing layered gold-line decoration across a deep black ground
Lacquer urn with painted mineral-pigment landscape in greens and gold

Lacquer is applied in layers, then painted, gilded and polished by hand.

Featured Works

Selected artworks

Crane Beneath the Pine Lacquer Urn — red-crowned crane and ancient pine in gold on lacquer
Crane Beneath the Pine Lacquer Urn HC-003 · 丹鹤承松
Phoenix at the Wutong Lacquer Urn — pink phoenix on a black lacquer ground
Phoenix at the Wutong Lacquer Urn GC-002 · 凤栖梧
Golden Sea Pavilion Lacquer Urn — gilded wave borders flanking a gold clasp on black lacquer
Golden Sea Pavilion Lacquer Urn EC-009 · 钦安金海
Mawangdui Legacy Lacquer Urn — layered red and gold cloud ornament over a deep lacquer ground
Mawangdui Legacy Lacquer Urn OC-007 · 马王遗风
Ink Pine Lacquer Urn — gold pine branch across a deep lacquer field
Ink Pine Lacquer Urn EC-008 · 墨松
River Cliffs Pavilion Lacquer Urn — riverbank and cliff landscape in relief gold on black lacquer
River Cliffs Pavilion Lacquer Urn HC-005 · 江崖璟阁
Lacquer urn with hand-painted golden chrysanthemum branches on a black ground
Dew-Kissed Blossom Lacquer Urn with freshwater pearl detailing

Bespoke

Every life deserves its own story

Every bespoke lacquer piece begins with a memory, transforming the moments of a life into timeless art.

Every life leaves behind colours, places, stories and memories. A tree. A sea. A city. A favourite colour. An object carried through many years. Each can become the beginning of a memorial work.

  • One to oneA dedicated studio dialogue from first memory to finished piece
  • MaterialNatural lacquer, 24K gold, mineral pigments and select woods
  • By handGilding, line work, painting and polishing — all hand-finished
  • PersonalPrivate commissions shaped around a life, not a catalogue
Begin a Commission

URN ATELIER

Every life deserves to be remembered with beauty.

Every handcrafted lacquer memorial is created to honour a unique life — preserving memory, dignity and love for generations. We work slowly, with materials that last, so that an object made for remembrance may itself be kept and carried forward.

Luxury Memorial Art · Handcrafted Chinese Lacquer

Private Enquiry

Begin a conversation

For a specific work, a collection question, or a private commission, our studio replies directly. Tell us about the piece — or the life — you have in mind.

Wholesale
Available upon request
Commissions
Private and bespoke enquiries welcome
Studio
China · shipping worldwide

Your enquiry goes directly to our studio at concierge@urnatelier.com. We reply personally, usually within one business day.