The Brocade Vase is an eye-catcher, with its intriguing design. We discovered an unfinished version of it, sitting in a sink, in a corner of TUMO Studios in Yerevan. At first glance, we mistook it for a leather or fabric piece, but were amazed to find out that it is actually a ceramic vase inspired by traditional Armenian needlework. We had to have one!

Created for QAMI JAN, this glazed version maintains the same allure that captivated us at first sight. Use as a utilitarian object (it heightens the charm of any bouquet) or on its own, as a work of art.

THE DETAILS:

• Designed and handmade by Levon Sargsyan during an atelier led by Bisila Noha.
• Material: clay + glaze. Each item is handmade and has minor variations.
• Made in: Armenia
• About 10.5 inches high and 5.5 inches wide
• Limited production, less than 20 made

WHAT IS ARMENIAN NEEDLACE?

Armenian needlelace (Janyak) is a knotted lacemaking practice, said to have descended from net making on the eastern banks of the Mediterranean Sea. Tight knots are tied one by one, which cannot be easily unraveled. This craft was passed down matrilineally, from woman to woman.

Unlike in Europe, where lace was reserved for the nobility, in Armenia, it was used to decorate everyday household objects, from dowries to intimate garments, to heirlooms

The Brocade collection from TUMO Studios, designed by Levon Sargsyan and Ani Petrosyan, takes this application of lace to household objects one step further. They’ve applied Armenian needlelace to ceramics, from serving plates, to bowls, to vases. Not by using knots and thread but by imprinting the pattern directly into the objects.

It’s a clever homage to a millennia-long Armenian practice.

QAMI JAN x TUMO STUDIOS

QAMI JAN is pleased to offer products by TUMO Studios, a free educational program that invites the world's best designers to teach technical workshops to university-age students and young professionals in Armenia, who have a passion for artistry and design. Sales of these items benefit TUMO Studios, which is completely free for its students. QAMI JAN is excited to be the authorized retailer for TUMO Studios in the United States, as we share their passion to cultivate the next generation of Armenian designers and artisans.