Finnish Inspiration

I went to Finland during the Easter break to get some inspiration for my project. Here's my main observations:

My father had made this beautiful little bell. The purpose, according to him, is to ring the bell, to get my mother's attention, and to get her to bring a beer on his hand (apparently he is working hard in the garden, doing some diy or perhaps refurbishing the house!). He told this to us, just to annoy my mother, as she can be sometimes little stiff with jokes.. We all had good laugh! 

The shape of the bell appealed me. It is in the end very traditional shape, but the  way it was made on the lathe inspired me. My father is a lathe/milling machine professional for over 30 years, mainly making parts for big forestry machines, but sometimes he surprises my family with these beautiful little objects. I wanted to learn how to mill in the way, that the surface is curvy and how the inside is milled to follow the same shape. I really like the wooden handle he had carefully carved to fit the bell.
It was time to visit his workshop.  

:)

Inspirational steel cylinders in rundown wooden pallet. 

Galvanised steel. Industrial oil jug

Sketching ideas

Storage vessels, jars, for kitchen use, domestic environment to hold dry foodstuffs.

Aiming for three to five objects... keeping the same characters on each piece, making collection. 

Let's see what happens1

Looking at proportions

Sketching away

I think it is too much, if there is two rings of copper in one object...

two rings of copper. Bottom one oxidised naturally, top ring has just been pickled in acid solution to clean off the oxidising from annealing. 

Re-evaluating the form

    Raw simplicity - visually and physically

    Subtle proportions

    What is the ideal relation between the metal and the wood?

    Focusing more on the metal than on the wood

The Realisation

I made a mould out of scrap wood, to form the metal into a circle. The idea came when I looked at the two materials, copper and plywood. Linear, natural earthy colours, cold, hard metal next to soft and light plywood. 

hmmm...

Back on to the drawing board!

Mindmap

I made this mindmap in the beginning of the project, to organise my mind and to establish what I basically wanted!  

Experimenting: Model making

My early experiments on cardboard before moving into metal sheet. I found it hard to think of ways to join two differently cut cylinders or cones. How to calculate the exactly right circumference, and what if the rim needed be oval shape?? Realised that it had become quite mathematical for me.. spent hours on online forums, where math experts explains formula's that aren't so easy to figure out, especially if it has been 15 years since the last time calculating complex formula's in secondary school! Needed to cogitate something more straightforward. These shapes has become too complex for my taste, I have realised that what I am after, is more ascetic.  

Cylinder with oblique rim and edge 

Hybrid cylinder. The main vessel carries smaller one on its side. 

Low cylinder with oblique rim

    Oblique truncated cylinder  

                   
   

      

Inspirational cast iron

Handle Me by Awaa 
The stunning cast iron cookware by Awaa from Norway celebrates the basic principle of cooking in the world of fast foods and take aways.
I love the way the pitch black rough cast iron, bulky and reduced oak handles and bright white, assumably enamelled lids goes together. Each piece is stylistically detailed, yet they seem to come a cross very minimal and somehow feel extremely light.

Examining the form

Since beginning of the project, I've been looking different design brands and their objects. I have categorised the research into two, shape and material/finish. 

I made a decision that I am designing for the kitchen - something that is functional yet aesthetically attractive. The Key Elements are: simplicity, raw, structural, every day use, precious. Here is few selected tableware objects that I felt fits into the category.

Measuring - something we do in the kitchen when cooking and baking. fundamental tool

Paul Smith and Eno vessels are two walled, inner circle dish set slightly deeper, creating visual illusion of floating. I find the chunkiness and the weight that this way constructed objects create, intriguing. I think the relatively heavy weight on an object can be associated with preciousness.

The brass Kin set by Skultuna has an uniform look, that can be established from each object. The measures (diameter), material finish and shape in some way or another go together. I think my project and the outcome should reflect uniformity!

Cylinder Shakers by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio has a very simple approach to design. Its the plainness that attracts, and the use of beautiful materials. Salt and pepper pinch bowl...hmmm...that's an idea!

All these objects are vessels, therefore, they are to hold something inside, to store.   

Enamelled measuring jug

Dot by Paul Smith

Eno Ciotolito Copper Dish by Donoata Paruccini

Skultuna Kin set by Claesson Koivisto Rune

Cylinder Shakers by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio

Copper Inspiration

Absolutely fell in love with these Mauviel copper saucepans. The French company has been making them since mid 19th century, and they are still today highly appreciated by chefs in professional kitchens and by cooks in domestic environments due to the coppers' high thermal and electrical conductivity. Though, great care has to be taken when using copper pans, as the material is soft and dents easily. Copper releases toxins when in touch with acid foodstuffs. In the past, they used to tin-line by hand the pans and pots from inside, today copper pans are mainly industrially lined with stainless steel.
I decided to work on copper, because of its beautiful colour, that actually oxidises and patina over time, and therefore creates feel of longevity towards the object. I feel that due to the metals' soft appearance, the dents that will appear from use, will give a hint of nostalgia and makes the owner want to nurture the beloved sauce pan or pot even more greatly, arousing it to live longer.   

I have found inspiration from Kaikado's tea caddies. These beauties are made from copper (stainless steel lined) or alternatively you can get them in brass, tin or silver.  Then caddies varies in size and purpose, some of them have a added handle or others has layered compartments making them available for many uses. It is the simple unembellished design that strikes me!