Lacquer Wall Art Panels

Stocker Studio produces handcrafted lacquer wall art panels in our atelier in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Each panel is a one-of-a-kind composition built over weeks in 20 to 50 layers of natural Cambodian lacquer, finished by hand with materials that cannot be replicated by machine: 24k gold leaf, eggshell mosaic, copper leaf, beetle wings, and rye straw marquetry.

This is not decoration in the disposable sense. A lacquer wall panel made today, by the techniques we use, will outlast the building it hangs in.

What is a lacquer wall art panel?

A lacquer panel begins as a thin, lightweight wood support — usually Hevea, the rubber tree, milled in Siem Reap. The lacquer (sap from the Gluta laccifera tree, harvested in Kampong Thom) is applied layer by layer over a wooden ground. Each layer is allowed to cure for several days before the next is laid down. Twenty to fifty layers go into a single panel before it is signed.

The decorative materials — gold leaf, eggshell, copper, mineral pigments — are pressed or laid into the surface during the production phase, often between specific layers, so the imagery becomes part of the lacquer rather than sitting on top of it. This is what gives lacquer its signature depth: when light enters the surface, it travels through several layers of cured tree sap before it returns to the eye.

Lacquer wall details with mirror inserts in restaurant interior — a Stocker Studio commission
Lacquer wall details and circular mirror inserts in a restaurant interior — a recent Stocker Studio commission.

Our wall art collection

We currently produce wall art panels in five styles, each available as a unique piece or as a custom commission. Browse the full collection here.

  • Botanical imprint panels — natural lacquer with hand-pressed leaf imprints in copper or gold leaf. Suited to dining rooms and lobbies.
  • Lotus collection — figurative lotus forms in 24k gold on black natural lacquer. Multi-panel installations available.
  • Rye straw marquetry — a centuries-old European technique we revived in Cambodia. Geometric and figurative compositions in dyed rye straw on lacquer.
  • Singularity series — abstract compositions in copper leaf and oxidation, large format (90–100 cm).
  • Le Carré 1976 — formal grid compositions referencing modernist French painting, named for the year Eric Stocker began at Mobilier National.

Where lacquer wall panels work

The pieces we produce most often go into one of three settings:

Hospitality

Hotel lobbies, suite walls, restaurants. The Lotus Collection has been a permanent feature at Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort since 2019. Lacquer is uniquely suited to hospitality — it survives daily cleaning, holds its colour over decades, and reads as artwork rather than fixture. Read about our hospitality commissions here.

Private collectors

Living rooms, dining rooms, libraries. Our wall panels are sized between 60 cm and 1.5 m on the long edge — small enough to sit naturally above a sofa, substantial enough to anchor a room. Multi-panel installations (two, three, or eight panels) are available for larger walls.

Public and institutional spaces

Embassies, museums, foundations. Eric Stocker's work has been recognized by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Quai d'Orsay Trophée, 2019) and his pieces are present in the collection of Mobilier National in Paris, where he trained for 25 years.

Stocker Studio lacquer piece in an English gallery setting
A Stocker Studio lacquer vase in a private gallery setting in England — natural lacquer is at home in both contemporary and traditional rooms.

How to buy a lacquer wall panel

For pieces in the current collection, visit /collections/wall-art-panels. Every piece on the site is in stock or being produced for stock. Lead time from order to delivery is typically two weeks for in-stock items.

For custom commissions — your dimensions, your subject matter, your colour palette — write to us via the commissions page. Eric responds personally to all serious inquiries within three business days. Production takes three to six months for most custom panels; longer for monumental pieces.

Care and maintenance

Cured natural lacquer is one of the most durable surface materials ever developed. Antique lacquer pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries are still in daily use. To maintain a Stocker Studio wall panel:

  • Dust with a soft, dry cloth weekly. No chemicals.
  • Avoid direct sunlight for prolonged periods (years) — lacquer can yellow under UV, like all natural finishes.
  • Indoor only — natural lacquer is not designed for outdoor display.
  • The surface is water-resistant. A damp cloth is fine if dust has built up.

FAQ

Is lacquer the same as varnish or polyurethane?

No. Polyurethane is a synthetic plastic coating. Natural lacquer is the cured sap of the Gluta laccifera tree, applied in layers and chemically polymerized over weeks. The finishes look superficially similar but behave very differently — natural lacquer is harder, more flexible, and lasts centuries.

Are the pieces signed?

Yes. Each piece carries Eric Stocker's signature on the back, along with the year of completion and a unique number for the commission or edition.

Can you ship internationally?

Yes. We ship worldwide via DHL Express, fully insured, with full customs documentation. Free shipping on orders over $500. Typical transit from Siem Reap is five to ten business days. Read more about shipping here.

What is the price range?

Wall panels in the current collection start at $650 for the smallest pieces and go up to $9,500 for monumental panels. Custom commissions are quoted by project.

To browse the current collection of lacquer wall art panels, visit the wall art collection. To inquire about a custom panel for your space, contact us through the commissions page.