Charles Eames, the American Designer who was called upon to help setup India’s National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad in 1958, said of the Lota in his ‘The Indian Report’ - ‘Of all the objects we have seen and admired during our visit to India, the Lota, that simple vessel of everyday use, stands out as perhaps the greatest, the most beautiful’

The Desktop Planter is inspired by this ageless Lota Design and the quintessential Katori – a smaller variant of the Lota and such a big part of the Indian Thali to hold its varied ingredients. The yellow and red (or dark blue/black) colours are inspired by Haldi, Kumkum and Indigo, an essential part of the Colours of India. The glass beaker in the wooden lota, allows water to be used to feed a real, live plant in the pot such as a money plant.

This product is made by artisans of the Channapatna Woodcraft, craft that has existed since the 1700s near Bangalore in Karnataka. These handcrafted wooden crafts are made using traditional, turned lacquer ware techniques and are coloured using natural dyes. These products are absolutely eco-friendly. These products are made using locally available soft wood called Ale Mara, natural lacquer and vegetable dyes like turmeric, spinach and indigo.