"We are on a cultural journey. We apply the grand traditions of Eastern craftsmanship to modern design".

Patinae was created as a bridge between Eastern craft traditions and the contemporary world.

Across centuries, artisans have developed extraordinary ways of working with materials — lacquer drawn from trees, porcelain shaped from earth, textiles dyed from plants.

These practices are not only techniques. They are ways of understanding time, patience, and the relationship between human hands and natural materials.

Patinae collaborates with artisans and studios to bring these traditions into contemporary life, creating objects that carry both cultural memory and modern sensibility.

The Name

The name Patinae is derived from the word patina — the subtle surface that forms on materials as they age.

In art and craft, patina is not damage or decay. It is the visible trace of time: the soft deepening of lacquer, the mellow glow of metal, the quiet wear left by human touch.

The Founders

Patinae was founded in New Zealand by two young founders who share a deep appreciation for Eastern art and craft traditions.

Coming from different professional fields, they were united by a common fascination with the material intelligence embedded in traditional making — the way knowledge is passed from hand to hand across generations.

Through Patinae, we aim to create a space where these traditions can be encountered in a contemporary context, allowing audiences beyond their places of origin to discover their quiet depth.