Meet The Maker: Jose Luis Bazan

Last year we went to Spain on a PORTA sourcing trip, renting a little car, and in our usual giddy way, zoomed around meeting makers. As we were planning our trip, we read about an amazing leather artisan, called Jose Luis Bazan, who lived on the top of a mountain in Benaocaz. The problem was that he wasn’t really on our route and we had so much to do! We hummed and hawed about taking the extra time to deviate, and as we were almost past the point of no return, read that he was a ‘national treasure’, gave each other a look, and the decision was made. Up the mountain, over the hill and far away we went. It was the right choice.

Jose Luis Bazan is a fourth generation leather maker that has created pieces for Loewe and Louis Vuitton. He has been awarded the Premio Nacional de Artesanía (National Craftsmanship) Prize, and recognised by the Michelangelo Foundation as a Master Craftsman, and, when we finally made our way through the narrow streets with the help of the locals and walked along the ruins of the ancient town to his studio, we could see why.

Bazan makes one-of-a-kind leather decorative bowls that are created through wet molding technique that has been practiced in his hometown since the 18th century. Using only leather that is layered, shaped, dried and painted at the rim, Bazan makes objects of luxury and elegance, the minimal design contemporary in form but rooted in a deep history and technique. They are exquisite accents for the home, in an entryway or living room, and whether they are placed alone or nested, they never lose their charm. We were completely taken by them, and hope you are too.