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.
Included in the installation is this series of candle holders created in collaboration with metal artist Chikako Ueda and woodworker Takatsugu Matsumoto. Using the natural grains of local woods (cherry, ash, oak, maple, zelkova and castor aralia) and mixing these with effects of different metals and metal-hammering techniques to create geometric pieces
The Kyoto based brand explores traditional crafts through a modern design gesture. Pictured: the bamboo and porcelain combination which they debuted earlier this year
The collection is the result of a collaboration between the brand and Kohchosai Kosuga who specialise in bamboo weave
The woven baskets are combined with pastel-coloured glazed glass vessels...
...and with asymmetrically shaped porcelain in similar hues
The asymmetric combination of the woven bamboo with the raw edged ceramics in pastel shades creates an innovative group of objects that exquisitely exemplify Sfera’s craftsmanship efforts
All of Sfera's ranges are designed by founder Shigeo Mashiro and his creative team. Pictured: a collection standalone porcelain vases
New furniture pieces include the textured wooden stools and copper-topped side table, finished with a turned and textured chestnut base.
The installlation pays tribute to Japanese craft in a contemporary way, and to the local talent for skilfully manipulating materials. Pictured: another new collection of chairs on show
The chairs were rafted from three types of wood – cherry, maple and quince...
...and combined with a wide range of upholstery options, from traditional fabrics to butter-soft leather
Also on display are Sfera's humorous collection of dog beds, crafted from cherry and beech woods with an optional upholstered cushion for 'canine comfort'
The Sfera exhibition is on show till 21 November.
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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