The Chanel Five Wings Maki-e Brooch Set from the 2025 Reach for the Stars high jewelry collection celebrates a poetic fusion of two artistic traditions—gem-setting and Japanese Maki-e lacquer art. Each brooch takes the form of a feathered wing, where precious metals and gemstones are intricately combined with hand-painted lacquer designs depicting comets, fine feathers, and delicate leaves, evoking both grace and celestial beauty.
Maki-e, meaning “sprinkled picture,” is a centuries-old Japanese lacquer technique. Artisans paint patterns by hand using natural lacquer derived from tree sap, then sprinkle gold, silver, colored powders, or mother-of-pearl dust onto the surface before sealing, polishing, and burnishing it to reveal luminous, refined motifs.
For this creation, Chanel collaborated with renowned Japanese lacquer artist Yuji Okada, who hand-painted five intricate feather designs: shimmering gold and silver feathers on black lacquer; leaf-like textures on gray lacquer; abstract lines on red lacquer; embossed wings on gold lacquer; and radiant comet patterns on deep blue lacquer.
Chanel’s master jewelers completed each piece with matching gemstone feathers—black lacquer paired with diamonds and black spinels for striking contrast; gray lacquer with diamond feathers for ethereal lightness; red and gold lacquer with yellow and blue sapphires for vibrant warmth; and deep blue lacquer with sapphire feathers for an air of cosmic mystery.
