Individually handmade in Huh Myoung Wook's South Korea-based studio, these metal placemats are encased in a brown leather holder. Each placemat is coated with eco-friendly lacquer from Rhus tree sap using the traditional Ottchil technique. Once applied and dried the lacquer forms a coated film that is resilient against spills and stains. The craft of Ottchil is a meticulous and labour-intensive process requiring more than 30 coats of lacquer to be applied. The artist skilfully creates the colour driven by the emotions of the day, so the same colour cannot be made twice. Korean culture assigns specific emotions to different colors, whether red to represent passion or green to signify youthfulness. Please note this piece is handmade, meaning each one has subtle differences in colour, shape and detail, which add to its charm and character.