Poetic craft: a debut show of Kyoto-based brand Sfera at Clerkenwell London
Design showroom Clerkenwell London, located in the heart of the cultural district, presents Kyoto-based brand Sfera’s debut in town, with new pieces presented alongside their previous collections.
Handmade in Japan by artisans from the Kyoto area, the pieces designed by founder Shigeo Mashiro and his creative team explore a variety of Japanese traditional crafts through a modern design gesture.
The company expanded on the bamboo and porcelain combination they debuted earlier this year, with a collection of vases that combine the two materials (as well as glass) in a functional yet poetic expression. The collection is the result of a collaboration between the brand and Kohchosai Kosuga, a company founded in 1898 who specialise in bamboo weave. The asymmetric combination of the woven baskets with the glazed glass and raw edged ceramics in pastel shades creates an innovative group of objects that exquisitely exemplify Sfera’s craftsmanship efforts.
Another new collection on show is a series of chairs crafted from three types of wood – cherry, maple and quince – combined with a wide range of upholstery options, from traditional fabrics to butter-soft leather. Other furniture pieces include the textured wooden stools and a copper-topped side table, finished with a turned and textured chestnut base.
The exhibition also celebrates the earlier collaborations between Sfera and the Kyoto prefecture; seen together, the collections are a testament to the company’s ability to pay tribute to Japanese craft in a contemporary way, and to the local talent for skilfully manipulating materials to create an enchanting range of desirable objects.
INFORMATION
The Sfera exhibition is on show until 21 November. For more information, visit the Sfera website
ADDRESS
155 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3AD
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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
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