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Found: Gorgeous Urushi Lacquer over Gold Leaf for VANHULSTEIJN X SOTHEBY’S Single Speed

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What do you get when you combine the striking design of Vanhulsteijn bike with Japanese Urushi lacquer and gold leaf? You get a beautiful, very limited edition bike that is only available through Sotheby’s. While the standard Vanhulsteijn bikes (if you can call them that), are available from their web store on an ongoing basis, the Vanhulsteijn X Sotheby’s Urushi bikes will be limited to just 9 pieces. Each bike will be made to order and custom built for the owner so the limited seatpost adjustment won’t be an issue.

The bike is certainly attention grabbing, but the real stand out for this particular model is the amazing finish. Get up close, next.


Vanhulsteijn is a small bike building operation that was started by Herman van Hulsteijn in Arnhem, Netherlands around 2009. Drawing on his experience as a furniture maker, Herman actually built his first bike out of a group of tubes that were meant to be a lamp. As their bikes have become more popular, each frame continues to be handmade in their small workshop. Prices start at € 905,00 for a frameset, or roughly $1235 and complete bikes at € 1820, around $2484.

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The-Urushi-Bicycle-Project5  The-Urushi-Bicycle-Project3

The Urushi finish gets its name from the sap of the Urushi or lacquer tree which is found in China, Korea, Japan, and the eastern Himalayas. The sap has a resin that will harden when exposed to the elements, becoming a hard, almost plastic like substance. The beautiful lacquer is not easy to come by though, as drying times for a single layer can talk up to 3 months, with most finished taking around 6 months to completion. Underneath the lacquer is a layer of gold leaf that was applied by Tsugaru Nuri.

The bike is finished off with custom made parts with Ray skin coverings and Vanhulsteijn logos and the individual number in a Maki-e technique which uses more gold dust in Urushi lacquer. There is no word on price, but should you be interested in what we’re assuming is a very expensive bike, contact Vanhulsteijn at info@vanhulsteijn.com.

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ken
ken
10 years ago

the ballinist hipsters bike, wait are those brakes?

Ghost Rider
10 years ago

Interesting Urushi facts: this was the finish applied to Japanese rifles in WWII, and the raw sap has a poison-ivy-like effect on some people, with blisters and itching as a result of exposure.

The Heckleur
The Heckleur
10 years ago

OMG IT’S LIKE A SOFTRIDE, DOES ANYONE REMEMBER SOFTRIDE BECAUSE I SURE DO!!

nicholas
nicholas
10 years ago

Shoulda’ used lugs………

pornitswhatlwouldratherbmaking
pornitswhatlwouldratherbmaking
10 years ago

That seat looks out of place and a bit too hipster for my taste. l also dont have that kind of money

Xris
Xris
10 years ago

This is one of those bikes that I would hang in my living room of my home that just recently got a second mortgage.

Eric@505
Eric@505
10 years ago

‘Eye of the beholder’…yikes. Pass.

Anon
Anon
10 years ago

It’s ironic that something so expensive and painstakingly crafted just looks like it was hit with cheap aqueous “flame” decals.

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