Maker Profile – Frying Pan JIU
It’s not often you see products that bring handcrafted techniques into the field of industrial design. For this reason, I have been fascinated by the work of Osaka-based Fujita Metal and Tokyo design studio TENT. By fusing TENT’s passion for modern design and Fujita Metal’s high-qu
New in the Shop – Cutlery by Rieko Fujimoto
Japanese metalworker Rieko Fujimoto has been hard at work over the last six months producing some stunning new cutlery for the shop. We are so pleased! I am especially fond of the ‘Both Ends’ spoon that’s been handcrafted from brass and features a scoop on one end and a small spoon
New in the Shop – Trays & Dishes by Yusuke Tazawa
There’s something so special about Japanese woodworker Yusuke Tazawa’s finishes. With a background in furniture making, Yusuke uses nature as his inspiration, using textures and tones found in the forest and incorporating them into his work. Yusuke now crafts out of his studio named Thin
New at OEN Shop – Ceramics by Makoto Asebi
Japanese potter Makoto Asebi’s work consists of two tones; black and white. This simple approach has helped him craft a cohesive series of objects that focus heavily on the perfection of form and the qualities that make up a specific glaze. The flat matte white has a wonderful luster behind th
New at OEN Shop – Perfect Instance Mobile by Tempo
One of my favourite pieces from Japanese workshop Tempo is the Perfect Instance mobile that comes in a blue and orange colour. This mobile is composed of two anodised aluminium plates. One has been placed horizontally and the other vertically so that the plates intersect. A metal bar separates the t
New in the Shop – Woodwork by Akiko Ken Made
Anyone following our Instagram account would have seen our newest selection of work from Akiko Ken Made. I have always admired founders Akiko and Ken’s eye for timeless, minimalistic design. Their new piece titled ‘Paper Hotel’ is crafted from cherry wood and has a linoleum interio
New in the Shop – Mellow Vases by Hattern Studio
Hattern, meaning Happy Pattern, is a studio under the art direction of Jae Yang working between Seoul and Milan. The ‘Mellow Collection’ is a series of Acrylic objects that use both blurred and clear surfaces in a variety of colour gradients. The inspiration behind these objects is the work of 1
New in the Shop – Ebony RaysTray by Mori Kougei
Today we profile the wonderful RaysTray made from ebony wood by Mori Kougei. Handcrafted in Japan by Hiroyuki Mori, Mori Kougei uses the traditional skill of inlaying thin sheets of wood to create these striking functional objects for the home. The deep, dark colour of the ebony has hints of purple
New in the Shop – Pebble Paperweights by PLYWOOD laboratory
Japanese plywood manufacturer Taizawa Plywood developed their ‘Paper-Wood’ technology in 2009. Paper-Wood is plywood with beautiful cross-section colouring that was created by laminating coloured recycled paper and natural wood grown locally in Hokkaido. Collaborating with studio Drill D
New in the Shop – VASTO Wall Object by Iwata Woodwork
A beautiful piece of minimal design by the Iwata Mokkou studio based in Hiroshima, Japan. The VASTO wall object has been developed to have harmony within Iwata’s current collection of woodwork that we already stock. These pieces can stand alone as art on the wall or purely as sculptural object
New in the Shop – Rustic Pottery by Katsufumi Baba
One artist we have represented for nearly 10 years now is Japanese potter Katsufumi Baba. He is a unique artist who toes that line between modern and traditional. Katsufumi’s focus is crafting functional beauty. Those items you can enjoy and use over one’s entire lifetime. By using matte
New at OEN Shop – Traditional Japanese Pottery by Nankei Studio
Nankei are a ceramic studio based in the city of Yokkaichi in Japan. They specialise in the production of traditional teapots using classic but timeless designs that date back hundreds of years. This particular area of Japan is known for a fine natural clay that’s fairly smooth in texture. Nan