A polished surface feels more expensive than a matt one long before you touch it. That is down to physics, not taste. Light striking a smooth surface is reflected back in one sharp direction, known as specular reflection. It creates the small, crisp gleam the eye unconsciously associates with precision and care.

The history of the whetstone goes back thousands of years, from Egyptian craftsmen who polished stone with sand to today's finishes in several layers of lacquer and oil. The more layers, the deeper the reflection lies, and the more expensive the surface looks, because the light has to travel further to return to the eye.

Luxury has therefore never been only about what a material costs. It is about how many hours have been spent making the light behave correctly on its surface. A rushed finish can be seen from a distance, however expensive the wood was.

When we work in our most refined style, time is therefore the material itself. We never cut it short, however long a client waits for the result. Because every piece is laid by hand and not copied by machine, no Venci piece leaves the workshop as the twin of another. That is what we mean by unique.