Design Your Christmas 2020 - Episode 1
A week ahead of the first Advent, I am starting a four-part series with design creations and objects that could find their place under the Christmas tree. These creations (new and old) are all original pieces and should match every type of budget. Enjoy the selection and the holiday season.
KC Pendant Light by Karen Cunningham (Australia)
These free-formed, hand-blown glass pendant lights feature an innovative cord loop detail and are manufactured by a small team of skilled glassblowers in JamFactory’s Glass Studio. The light by Karen Cunningham is available in two sizes and two standard colours. The shape is created without any moulds from the form to the cord wrap detail meaning each piece is truly unique. Due to the handmade production methods, sizes and forms may vary from the image. You can also choose the colour of the glass.
Dependables by Maria Bruun (Denmark)
Inspired by the ritual of storing beloved things, Dependables is a unique box system made out of solid walnut and oak wood. With an elegant stacking feature the boxes can be transformed into a piece of sculptural and functional furniture. The boxes are crafted by hand, carefully giving every little detail full attention.
Sizes: High box 30 x 64 x 47 cm - Low box 15 x 64 x 47 cm
Source: Maria Bruun. Low box: EUR 1,350* (ca. USD 1,600); High box: EUR 1, 450* (USD 1,720)
Pictures by Anders Sune Berg & Benita Marcussen.
limitedFern by mischer’traxler (Austria)
Since 2008 the Design project realLimited by mischer’traxler studio focuses on endangered species in Austria. The loss of biodiversity is visualised in ‘limited editions’ and consequently creates a dialogue between art, design and nature. The latest additions to the series focuse now as well on flora.
The vase limitedFern brings notholaena marantae, also called ‘Europa cloak fern’ into the living room. Portrayed in brass, partly lacquered, partly patinated, it appears in the space between two stones.
The stones are actually a vase out of grey-dyed porcelain and represent the habitat of the plant – as the fern lives exclusively on serpentine rocks, a greyish stone which contains a large amount of heavy metals. Serpentinit is known to be toxic for most other plants, thus the flora growing on it is highly specialised.
In conversation with an expert, the number of specimens of this plant species still occurring in Austria’s nature was estimated at a maximum of 200. This number was afterwards reproduced in metal. Each individual fern plant is numbered and represents a living counterpart. 10 % of the price of the object will go to selected nature conservation projects of the Austrian Nature Conservation Association which acquire meadows and natural areas and preserve them in their natural state.
Sizes: small (approx.): 15 x 10 x 20 cm (l, w, h) - big (approx.): 17 x 20 x 20 cm (l, w, h)
Source: mischer’traxler studio. Small: EUR 390* (ca USD 462); Big: EUR 490* (ca USD 580)
Iklwa Collection by Mac Collins (UK)
Iklwa is designed by Mac Collins, in what is the designer’s first ever consumer collection. Together with Benchmark, Collins has created a collection that fuses his African-Caribbean roots with British craft. The Iklwa family is derived from Collins’ original Indigo-blue Iklwa Chair which earned him the title of winner of the inaugural Cræftiga Awards in 2018.
Mac’s composition of powerful, spear-like forms is in tune with the ideas of Afrocentrism and Afrofuturism. Much like a throne, the visually intense high back of the Iklwa Lounge Chair is intended to frame, enhance, and empower those who sit in it.
Sizes: Large: w 940 x d 815 x h 1005mm - w 690 x d 680 x h 830mm - Side Table: dia 500 x h 520mm. Material options: Ash White Oil, Oak Whitened Oil, Earth Orange.
Source: Benchmark Furniture. Large: GBP 2,275* (ca USD 3,022); Small: GBP 1,735* (ca USD 2,305); Side Table: GBP 835* (ca USD 1,110).
Pictures by David Cleveland.
Additional Information:
*all prices are exclusive of local taxes and shipping. Hero picture: Pearl Chalet, Courchevel (France).
