WHAT IS IT?
Hsun-ok (pronounced "Su knock") are lacquered wood and coiled bamboo vessels that were used in Burmese culture to present offerings to Buddhist temples and decorate shrines.
Hsun-oks are usually covered in red lacquer, which originally came from the sap of a Thitsi Tree (Melanhorrea Usitata). The base coat was almost always black, so on older hsun-oks, you'll frequently see hints of black popping through the red topcoats, which have been worn away with time. Some hsun-oks are decorated with gold leaf, glass inlay, and thayo, a low relief moulded technique utilizing a lacquer sap and ash-like putty.
Working from bottom to top, the structure is composed of a pedestal base, occasionally a removable tray inside the base, and a multi-tiered finial. The foot of the base sometimes includes a tier composed of small, hand-carved reed-like pieces of wood (like the red one, above). The finial is in the shape of stupa, which is the top of a Buddhist temple.
HOW TO STYLE
GENERAL TIPS
—Use as a tabletop centerpiece, on shelving, or in and on top of a bookcase or cabinet.
—Cluster multiple ones together for a statement.
EXAMPLES
Both of my favorite examples are curtesy of Restoration Hardware Chairman and co-CEO Gary Friedman's home. Here, groupings of hsun-oks adorn cabinet tops, and give the room a surprising pop of red, all while keeping it classy and calm.
Below, they decorate tabletops...
And shelving...
WHERE TO BUY
If you happen to be in Bagan, Myanmar, there are several lacquerware workshops worth visiting. Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, Thailand, also has an area that sells hsun-oks -- just get there early before the heat and crowds become overwhelming!
For antique hsun-oks, there are a variety of online options, such as Chairish and 1stDibs. For more reasonably priced options, Siam Sawadee has new ones for sale, with high customer ratings. This Etsy store sells a variety of Burmese lacquerware, and it looks like you can order a customizable hsun-ok there. Hsun-oks are frequently marketed as some combination of the following words: Burmese + lacquer + ceremonial / temple / offering + vessel / jar / stupa ... so get creative with your searches.
To get a deeper appreciation for and understanding of Burmese lacquerware techniques, check out this post by Sunday Blog and the step-by-step video at the end, curtesy of Golden Cuckoo Lacquerware Shop in Bagan. Truly an amazing craft, done by very patient artists!
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