Playful Scratchable Vases

Israeli designer Itay Ohaly has created a set of three black vases that can be etched to expose layers of hidden colour beneath. The series is a continuation of Ohaly's exploration into material etchings and patterns.

The idea for the decorative design came from a type of etching Ohaly created as a child, which involved scratching a dark coating from coloured paper to reveal hidden hues underneath. To recreate the effect, the vases are covered with several layers of paint, separated by an oil layer. The surface can be scratched away with writing or drawings to reveal hints of pink, yellow and blue underneath.

Ohaly illustrated a set of vases to demonstrate the possible effects. Irregular markings evolve over the surface to create unique overall patterns. The manual etching technique adds a hand-drawn and crafted touch to interior products, catering to consumers' desire for unique items. We explore this playful approach further in Colour Me In: Handcrafted Visuals.

For more on the developing cut-and-paste aesthetic, look to our Collage colour rationale for A/W 17-18. Also see our previous Creator and Assemble rationales.