Dezeen Magazine

Itay Ohaly's scratchable vases reveal hidden colours

Israeli designer Itay Ohaly has created a set of three black vases that can be etched to reveal colourful hidden layers beneath.

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

Ohaly took the idea for the design from etchings he created as a child – scratching off a dark coating from coloured paper to reveal the different hues underneath.

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

To recreate this effect, the designer covered the vases with several layers of paint, separated by an oil layer. Drawings can be engraved into their surfaces to reveal glimpses of pink, yellow and blue underneath.

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

The project is a continuation of Ohaly's Colored Memories installation, which was presented at Israel's Design Museum Holon in 2014. Visitors were invited to scrape drawings into walls and furnishings to reveal the coloured layers beneath.

Ohaly previously used layers of paint for his Color Rings jewellery collection, which was carved from wood covered in sections of coloured acrylic paint.

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

"In this project I continue with my exploration into the colour etching technique," Ohaly told Dezeen.

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

"I wanted to apply this technique to objects and I was interested in bringing this kind of aesthetics into peoples home. Furthermore, By using manual etching, I am trying to play and explore a kind of irregular, ongoing and evolving doodles which create unique overall patterns."

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

The collection of angular vases is available in three sizes: a taller version with a slender neck, a shorter vessel, and a squat square-shaped bowl. Ohaly has decorated the objects himself, to show how they'd look when semi or completely covered in engravings.

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

"The simple illustrated details might look naive and simple, however, I think that the dense overall look doesn't seem childish at all," he said. "I didn't envision it for children, but for cheerful adults."

Black etched vases by Italy Ohaly

Other unusual vases include a range of "upside-down" glass vessels that create a kaleidoscope when filled with flowers, and a collection of radioactive vases formed from reclaimed toxic waste.