New in the Shop – Handcrafted Iron Frying Pans by JIU
I’m a big fan of rethinking everyday design and seeing if there is any improvement to be made. This is exactly what Japanese design studio TENT did with Osaka-based metalworkers Fujita Metal. Fujita Metal’s speciality is the production of more traditional metal objects, from frying pans to a
New in the Shop – Iron Teapots Handmade by IWACHU
Although I try not to make a distinction between new and old, it’s exciting to see those workshops that have stood the test of time and continue to use artisanal skills to produce beautiful objects that have become staples. In Morioka, Japan resides IWACHU, a family run workshop who have been prod
Honest Design – The KYSS Range by Tom Fereday & Kenny Yong-soo Son
On principle I’m sure most designers would love to be more open to honest ways of working. Unfortunately it’s not always up to the designer thanks to the larger companies standing behind such projects. Materials are often substituted for materials of lesser quality. Methods of constructi
New in the Shop – The Art of Monozukuri Expressed by Metalworkers SyuRo
On the face of it the Japanese word ‘Monozukuri’ means literally “to make things” in Japanese. But the relationship between human and object is much stronger than one might first assume. The appreciation for hand techniques, craftsmanship, and ethic are all wrapped in to this
Still and Purposeful – Song & Bora / Mo by Silversmith Alex O’Connor
The beautiful, minimalist work of UK-based silversmith Alex O’Conner. I was first drawn in by Alex’s ‘Kib and Skath’ capsule collection, a series of wearable sculptures that are part inspired by ancient forms. I thought this idea of incorporating craft in to our everyday live
Absolute Harmony – Metal Forms by Ulla & Martin Kaufmann
Personally my connection to jewellery as a craft is not that strong, but my fascination with form has led me to the work of Ulla and Martin Kaufmann, a husband and wife duo who have a keen sense for design, dedicating their metalworking career to the pursuit of only the essential in design. One of [
Blending East & West – Bamboo Series by Chien-Wei Chang
While many artists and designers are influenced and inspired by existing genres, art movements or other people’s work, Chien-Wei Chang uses his own life as a source of inspiration. He tries to always implement an honest reflection of his own experiences in his collections of homeware objects,
Oxidation & Patina – Slip Mirrors by Brooklyn Studio Kin & Company
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the different traits of materials that we use to craft from. Of course, glass has the wonderful ability of setting the opacity, making light shine through or refract, then we have ceramic or wood that brings through natural texture, and lastly metal, which
New in the Shop – Metalworks by Australian Maker Kenny Son
Writing on the blog for more than 10 years it’s natural for me to see the progression of some of the maker’s work, not just the ones represented in our shop but also globally. One that I came across in 2013/2014 was the work of Kenny Son who is based in Sydney, Australia. Since that […]
A Subtle Balance – Silver Objects Crafted by Josephine Lützel
After many years studying tableware German silversmith Josephine Lützel has realised that certain objects should be designed with a specific function in mind. For example, a drinker of coffee in the morning may need several cups of coffee, so the ideal coffee pot should have just the right amount o
Timeless Creations – Metalwork by Maker Laurenz Stockner
Italian artist Laurenz Stockner sets out to create vessels that are both perfectly harmonious in shape and a representation of unspoiled natural beauty. He utilizes copper sourced from the Prettau mine, a mine known for having extremely valuable copper. Before shaping this copper into its final form
New at OEN Shop – Bronze & Lacquer Tableware by Chaehoon Moon of Damoon
There’s an interesting transformation when two surfaces combine. Chaehoon Moon for example, a young passionate creative who has been able to harness Korea’s traditions by working with two separate craftsmen, a Korean metalworker and a lacquer artist, to create these stunning forms that h