Fascinated by the concept of concealed wealth, Khashayar Naimanan explores a new austerity in design – an investigation into aesthetics and materials that celebrates inconspicuous consumption.

Naimanan began his career, aged 15, as a graffiti artist and photographer. It was while a student at the Royal College of Art in 2002 that he began his investigations into disguise and discretion through clothing designs with secret compartments and precious materials shaped into nails so that they can be hidden from view once hammered into the wall.

His collaborations with the venerable German porcelain company Porzellan-Manufaktur Nymphenburg extend the concept of subtle indulgence further, while also subverting the accepted traditions of patterned tableware. The hand-painted gold detailing distinguishes the Hidden Wealth Classic series as a luxurious item, however the precious motifs have been deliberately placed on the underside of each piece. Only the owner needs know they are there.

With porcelain of matchless purity and refinement, the hand-thrown pieces, exclusive to Gallery Libby Sellers, are all produced to the same exacting standards mastered by Nymphenburg in the mid-eighteenth century. Naimanan’s elegant pattern, inspired by traditional detailing from Napoleonic France, is both a respectful acknowledgment and an invigorating addition to Nymphenburg’s distinguished heritage.