For the last chapter of the #DesignYourChristmas series, we focus on wood, a traditional element associated with Christmas. As a log in the fireplace, the shelter of a chalet in the mountain, wood is soothing and protecting. So let’s celebrate it with five variations of its use.

Affe

The iconic creation by Kay Bojesen has a mischievous look and light belly. Launched in 1951, it is part of an animal collection by the Danish functionalist designer. He was trained as a silversmith at the Georg Jensen workshop. It also includes an elephant, a bear and more… It was also the mascot of wildlife TV programmes.

Affe (monkey in Danish language), is also an iconic element of Scandinavian design. Made of out teak and limba wood, it measures 20cm in height. Every monkey consists of 31 wooden parts and is crafted by hand in Denmark. As the wood used is unique, each monkey have a different personality due to the different wood grain. Finally, the limba used is legally harvested following the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the chosen plantation teak guarantees responsible and fair revenues for local populations.

Price: USD 141* (EUR 125)

Patél

Patél by Mestiz is a chair dressed by its tradition. The chair is composed of two elements: body and clothing. The body is moulded by industrial techniques, while the clothing is knitted in the sarape workshops by local craftsmen. Each piece has a specific colour, texture, and pattern, brought to life by the hands of the craftsman.

The carpentry is made in Mexico. The cotton is washed, dyed and spooled by hand. It is then woven with a treadle loom and finished by hand.

Mexico is a land of traditions, colours, customs and aromas. Since its origin, crafts and design have been under Mexico’s skin. Mestiz emerges from the merge of industrial and craftsmanship techniques. Its aim is to spread traditional craftsmanship and local talent into a contemporary lifestyle for its recovery and evolution.

Price: USD 405*

Eperfa

Anna Nóra, Emese and Nora (Eperfa) are three hungarian ladies who make toys about two places of Hungary which are full of tales: the hills around Budapest and about Lake Balaton, the largest lake of our country. They know and love the fauna and flora of these two places.

The toys are about the enormous trees in the shady forest, the houses and the Children’s Railway. About the scent of the summer, about the ferries in lake Balaton, bout the sun, the heat, the smell of the water.

With its handmade toys, the Dombon-a-Tanya design lab specialises in wooden toys. To ensure accuracy, the bird, fish, tree and other flora and fauna designs in its Eperfa line are approved by the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society and Balaton Uplands National Park. All are made from discarded wood and most of the toys are manufactured by disable or socially underprivileged people.

Price: Various*

Daybed

This beautifully handcrafted daybed by Valentin Loellmann for Galerie Gosserez is made out of walnut and brass. The designer has shaped the daybed to support a reclining body with an organic shape. Each piece is completely handmade by Valentin and all are signed and numbered. Dimensions: H 46 x L 265 X p 86cm. Other dimensions or finishes on request.

Born in 1983 in Germany, Valentin Loellmann graduated in 2010 from the Academy of Fine Arts in Maastricht, he founded his studio, accompanied by Galerie Gosserez (Paris) who immediately perceives the talent of his expressiveness. The designer won twice the price for the “most beautiful contemporary design piece” at PAD London in 2013 and 2017.

Price: On request

Andon

If you stayed in a ryokan, you have noticed the traditional andon lamp, normally lit by candle. The light is softly filtered by Japanese paper. Initially from the Edo period, the andon lamp was a common object with a daily use.

Time & Style stores have tried to figure out how they could bring the traditional Japanese lamps into modern life. Tokaki is a generic term for andon lamps and lanterns using canola oil and candles. The challenge was to bring the electrical wiring into a simple shape and to recreate the flame.

The andon lamp’s filament light is achieved by replicating a faint red flame as seen just before diminishing, which was an essential element. They also have added a dimmer.

Price: USD 655*

The #DesignYourChristmas Series Continues...