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
600 Year Old Tradition – Short Film on Japanese Indigo Dyeing
Who doesn’t enjoy learning more about the making process? Indigo dyeing is such a mystical and unique craft that turns a simple leaf in to a wonderful deep dark blue. Japanese studio Mori Kougei have intertwined this ancient craft with their classic woodworking skill. By using local dyers in t
The Art of Tsukiita – A Short Film on Japanese Studio Mori Kougei
It’s very difficult to showcase the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes to craft exquisite works of art through imagery alone. Japanese woodworking studio Mori Kougei has multiple facets to their making process that are note-worthy. This new short film does a great job of break
On Balance – Wood Shelves & Pedestals by Anne Brandhøj
Unfortunately we as consumers have become so impatient. The instant gratification of something fresh and shiny out of the box seems to fizzle out with time, leaving us wanting more and more of that initial feeling when we first set our eyes on it. It takes foresight to see something for its maturing
New at OEN Shop – Woodwork by Japanese Studio GOLD CRAFT
Elevating functionality and showing us a new way of living through careful design seems to be a topic that’s certainly worthy of focusing on. GOLD CRAFT, a workshop founded in 1963 in Kagawa, Japan have been crafting quite diligently, looking at new methods and ways of producing functional tablewa
New in the Shop – Sculptural Woodwork by Japanese Studio IPPEN
That unique space between art and function is one of the most interesting aspects of craft. Of course, set shapes may be used as a framework for production, but the qualities of producing by hand leaves small markings or traces that add warmth and character to an object. IPPEN is a Japanese studio c
Inside the Workshop – A Short Film on Woodworkers Mori Kougei
This is a real treat! See below our newest short film highlighting the work of Tokushima-based woodworkers Mori Kougei. Mori Woodwork is headed by craftsman Hiroyuki Mori in Tokushima, Japan. Mori specialises in a technique called ‘Tsukiita’ that involves slicing wood in to a thin, paper
New at OEN Shop – A Selection of Woodwork by HAKO SHIKI
The distinct bumps and textures of the maker’s tools are what make crafts so special. Japanese woodworker Masayuki Yanai has put these details to good use, his project titled ‘HAKO SHIKi’ involves wood that would otherwise go to waste. Masayuki believes that there are too many tree
New in the Shop – Handcrafted Japanese Lacquerware by Fujii Works
Lacquerware is still not that well understood in the West. Most people I speak to, if they have heard about it at all, have an image of the shiny black Chinese lacquerware with patterns painted in gold, red or black. Very different to what we are presenting here in our shop. Fujii Works have dedicat
New in the Shop – Woodworks by Japanese Workshop Kihachi
Woodworking studio Kihachi Workshop is based in the Yamanaka region of Japan, known for its beautiful mountainous landscape with trees filling every inch. Kihachi are the oldest producer of woodworks in this region, famous for both their exquisite lacquer and natural looking bowls with a timeless ap
Transformation of Space – Experimental Furniture by Stefan Prattes
I’ve spent the last few weeks on a deep dive researching compact living (check out Gary Chang’s Extreme Transformer is you haven’t already). On a personal level I would prefer living near nature as I find most of my inspiration comes from peace and solitude, but there’s somet
Images in Wood – Marquetry by British Artist Chelsea Vivash
This interesting cross section between art and craft continues to fascinate me and is an area that I think is still lacking in exploration. It seems as though craftsmen value the traditional skills and approach the production phase much like an architect would, thinking heavily about form and struct