Ivory Veil Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ by Xiaoge Zang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ Ilé Competition Category.

IdẹOhun Ọ̀ṣọ́ Ilé· 2026

Ivory Veil Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́

by Xiaoge Zang

Client: BeiHang University

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ Ilé Category

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Colors

The Design

About Ivory Veil Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́

Ivory Veil jẹ́ ohun ọ̀ṣọ́ tí a fi bàbà àti láká ti ẹ̀dá ṣe. Ìrísí rẹ̀ ń rán wa létí eyín erin tí a gbẹ́, ṣùgbọ́n a kò lo ohun èlò kankan láti ara ẹranko. A ṣe àpẹrẹ ọkàn bàbà rẹ̀, a ṣe ìpèsè rẹ̀ sílẹ̀, lẹ́yìn náà a fi nǹkan bí ìpele fẹ́lẹ́fẹ́lẹ́ àádọ́jọ (150) ti láká ti ẹ̀dá bò ó. Nígbà tí ó bá gbẹ, a ó gbẹ́ àwòrán àdàbà àti òdòdó peony sí ojú rẹ̀, a ó sì dán an títí yóò fi kúnná dáadáa. Gígùn ohun náà jẹ́ sẹntímítà mọ́kànléláàádọ́rin (71), ìbú rẹ̀ jẹ́ sẹntímítà mẹ́tàlélógún (23), gíga rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ sẹntímítà méjìdínlógójì (38). Ivory Veil ń lo iṣẹ́ ọnà ìbílẹ̀ Ṣáínà tí ó wà nínú ewu ìparun, ó sì ń pèsè ọ̀nà mìíràn tí ó dúró ṣinṣin fún àyíká, èyí tí ó ń ṣe àtìlẹ́yìn fún ìdáàbòbò àwọn ẹranko igbó.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award

Ivory Veil Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Ivory Veil Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Ivory Veil Ohun Ọ̀ṣọ́ ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This is a display item made of natural lacquer crafted using ancient Chinese techniques and shaped like ivory. It is not made of real ivory, but rather a combination of copper and lacquer materials that recreate the appearance of ivory. The craftsmanship involved is complex, and even in China, it faces the risk of being lost. Its texture is close to real ivory, and the patterns also adopt traditional Chinese artistic forms.
Dimensions & Packaging: Its length is 71 centimeters, width is 23 centimeters, and height is 38 centimeters.
Tags: Traditional Chinese Culture, Carved Lacquerware, Sculpture, Decorative Object, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Artwork, Ivory Form, Wildlife Protection
Production Technology: First, the lacquer collected from the tree is prepared. Then, the copper material is shaped into an ivory-like form, and a layer of primer is applied to the prepared copper surface. After the primer dries, multiple layers of natural lacquer are applied, ensuring each layer is smooth and accumulating to a thickness of about 150 layers. Once the lacquer layers are dry, tools are used to carve on the lacquer surface. Finally, the surface of the workpiece is polished to ensure smoothness.
Design Challenge: Lacquer trees are found deep in the mountains, and only a few drops of sap can be collected from each tree. Most people are allergic to lacquer, making the collection process extremely challenging. Very few people know how to make lacquer, and there are almost no reference books available. The lacquer will not cause allergy until it is completely dry. However, lacquer dries very slowly, requiring more than a year from the time of sap collection to the completion of the artwork.
Research: This is applied material and craft research. The objective was to recreate the beauty of ivory without using animal material. The method combined visual study, material comparison and making tests. Research tools included literature review, sketching, carving and surface-finishing trials. Prototype experiments examined form, texture and visual effect. The result showed carved lacquer could achieve an ivory-like elegance ethically. The project shows how traditional craft can support wildlife protection and inspire sustainable design.
Inspiration: To protect wildlife, we reject the use of real ivory. Yet ivory has long been admired for its artistic beauty, which inspired this project to recreate that elegance through a sustainable alternative. Chinese carved lacquer, made from natural lacquer resin, can be shaped freely and developed with a texture and visual softness close to ivory. This led to a carved lacquer object that echoes the form and refinement of ivory without using animal material.
Project Duration: Launched in Beijing in February 2023, and completed in May 2024.
Operation Flow: The object is meant to be viewed closely and appreciated from different angles. As the viewer lifts or turns it gently, the carved dove and peony motifs, layered lacquer surface, and ivory-like texture become more visible. The interaction is quiet and reflective rather than mechanical. It performs better by combining symbolic imagery, rich detail, and a smooth tactile quality, creating a deeper visual and emotional experience.
Team Members: Huanxi Wang
Yutong Wang
Ruoxuan Gao
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator Xiaoge Zang, White Carved Lacquer Artwork, 2024.
Image #2: CreatorXiaoge Zang , White Carved Lacquer Artwork, 2024.
Image #3: CreatorYutong Wang , White Carved Lacquer Artwork, 2024.
Image #4: Creator Huanxi Wang, White Carved Lacquer Artwork, 2024.
Image #5: CreatorYutong Wang, White Carved Lacquer Artwork, 2024.
Video Credits: Video Creator Xiaoge Zang ,White Carved Lacquer Artwork, 2024.