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In the workshop of Tankrey Laswerken, haste is considered a risk rather than a virtue. Every surface that enters is treated as one with latent potential, a plane that captures light, where layers build into a skin of depth, where colour is more than hue, it is presence.
Tankrey’s approach to their craft is noteworthy. Lacquer is not merely a finish, it is an essence. Each coat is fundamental to an object’s appearance. The choice of high-gloss or matte, of monochrome or subtly graduated tones, is never purely aesthetic. Every decision is grounded in experience, material knowledge, and the conviction that the surface must complement the whole. 
Specialising in premium lacquering, they produce finishes that never impose themselves on a space. Their precision is rooted in attention. Every project begins with a deep understanding of both the material and its context. Whether furniture, architectural elements, or bespoke interior features, the final result emerges through dialogue: between hand and surface, idea and execution, what is visible and what lies beneath the shimmer.
Between coats are pauses for resting, curing, and reconsideration
Such processes require time. Between coats are pauses for resting, curing, and reconsideration. No step is skipped. It is precisely this slow buildup that results in depth and suggestive reflection. Works in which the maker’s hand is always palpable. Tankrey collaborates with designers, architects, and clients who share their respect for detail and process. Their finishes are not developed in isolation but integrated into the overall design. Each piece receives the treatment it demands. In that sense, every project is unique. 
Tankrey opts for quiet refinement rather than loud defiance. Their work is based on completion and satisfaction, not deadlines. Only when every layer is right, when light is properly distributed, when the texture is tangible, is the work considered done. Although Tankrey works on surfaces, their work is never superficial. They create surfaces that communicate without noise or adornment, but with a clarity that lingers. Their lacquer is not a gloss, it is an attitude.
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Photography by Tankrey Laswerken, Bert Demasure (design by Maximiliaan Lefèvre and laura Calleeuw) and Jana Germanus (design by Studio '05)
Text by Carolien Depamelaere