Wow, what a pleasant surprise to see our home on the cover of Toronto Life! This magazine has always been good to us, and has surprised us many times. Maybe the most notable press we got when we first opened was being named number 5 of the 50 reasons to love Toronto.

Thanks again Toronto Life! Please pick up an issue and check out the other great interiors and some new images of our place!

 

So many people come to the store and always say that the shop is a lot bigger in person. That is usually because we rarely photograph the back half of our showroom.

There was some nice light earlier in the morning, so we decided to take a few images. Here is a little glimpse of what we have at the moment.

TMM floor lamp by Migel Mila
2209 leather sofa by Borge Mogensen
Spanish chair by Borge Mogensen
Spine coffee table and Lounge (right) by Space Copenhagen
Walnut side table by George / Mira Nakashima
Table lamp by George / Mira Nakashima

Shoji cabinet by Mjolk + Studio Junction
Hiroshima armchairs by Naoto Fukasawa
Roundish table by Naoto Fukasawa
Hunting chair by Borge Mogensen
Photograph by Peter Andrew

I know there were quite a few inquiries about when we would be putting Mr. Mitani’s work online, and I am pleased to say everything is finally available on our webshop:

Mjolk

Here is a sampling of what is available.

(above plum blossom dish with black and white Japanese urushi lacquer)

Cross plates.

A baby spoon, bowl, and plate gift set.

A specially made Chemex coffee sleeve in mountain cherry.

Black and white urushi coffee cups.

A set of nesting bowls.

Tea leaf box in mountain cherry.

A unique white lacquer bowl.

Mr Mitani’s beautiful signature.

The morning after the evening reception we hosted for Mr. Ryuji Mitani, we arranged for a special spoon carving workshop at our home above the shop/gallery.

Mr. Mitani has hosted these workshops in Japan and he came up with the idea in order to further connect people with hand crafted things, and give them an appreciation of the work that goes into making something as simple as a wood spoon. He does the workshop also to show how enjoyable it is to use craft products in one’s life, so that is why he also invited famous chef Ai Hosokawa to come along to cook lunch for all of the participants of the workshop. The idea was to carve a spoon, then use it during dessert.

Carving tools for the workshop.

Chef Ai Hosokawa went to the Duffering Grove farmer’s market to pick up some fresh and in season produce.

Chef Ai Hosokawa (left) and actress Hijiri Kojima (right).

Wooden cups and plates waiting under tea towels before being used for lunch.

We were lucky enough to have a beautiful day, so we decided to have the workshop outside.

Mr. Mitani showing how it’s done.

Cross-handed carving technique.

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Using every possible container in our kitchen to serve 14 people. Here is a Dansk loaf pan with strawberries.

Oven roasted peppers.

You can breathe easy, our home is littered with toys, despite our best efforts.

Serving dishes brought in just for the workshop.

Ai’s daughter making her own lunch with play food.

First dish: fresh Ontario strawberries with roasted red peppers.

Next a Rhubarb soup.

Couscous.

Pork ribs with peas, asparagus, cilantro, dill and parley.

This is making me hungry.

We had to move the table inside as the sun became too intense!

Just before dessert, Mr. Mitani instructs the students on how to oil finish their spoons.

While the spoons are drying, Ai gets her refreshing panna cotta ready.

The finished dessert with a freshly carved spoon to enjoy it with! Best panna cotta ever.

The whole group holding up their new spoons!

LUCA NICHETTO
LERA MOISEEVA
+ MJOLK

TOTEMICA

Here are some photographs from the opening of Totemica at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, an exploration of the process of developing both Sucbaruca and Aureola from initial concept, to production to finished prototype.

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The new Aureola set in a black iron stain finish, walnut handles and tray.

Red iron stained Aureola tea pot with cherry wood handle.

The pure white porcelain Aureola set with maple handle and tray.

Originally the “Pop” or “Memphis” version of Sucabaruca had a carrara marble tray with ebony wood legs. Finally we had a chance to produce a few and make them available to see at the exhibition.

Adriana Frisenna, the director of the Cultural center next to John, Luca and Alissa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw colour pigments used in the colour staining of Sucabaruca.

Sucabaruca fresh out of the mold.

Luca Nichetto and Adrian going over the details of the slender wood handles of Aureola.

The whole production team.
From left: John, Adrian, Luca, Scott and Alissa

We are very pleased to announce the newest product design from Mjolk by incredible designers Luca Nichetto and Lera Moiseeva. Continuing their exploration of rituals through a tea set called Aureola.

We got to work with the same incredible team of artisans realizing Luca and Lera’s concept, utilizing the skills of ceramicist Alissa Coe, artist Scott Eunson and wood artisan Adrian Kuzyk. From the initial concept of the design two very traditional aspects were added to the set: the use of black and red iron oxide powders to colour the white porcelain, and the absence of glaze on the set.  Iron oxides have been used as pigment since prehistoric times and the depth of colour that they produce gives the tea set a rich, timeless element. The idea to leave the set bare was inspired by traditional Chinese tea pots, where the more rough interior allows a fine patina to build up over time enhancing this way the flavor of the tea.

Here is the inspiration from Luca Nichetto and Lera Moiseeva:

“The idea of designing a tea set comes from a personal research, started long ago from the Venetian designer Luca Nichetto and developed together with the Russian designer Lera Moiseeva, on the ancient and modern sharing rituals that, even nowadays, play an important role in the social relationships in several countries. The tea ceremony, more than others, represents an important tradition in many areas of the world, and particularly in Asia, where it became almost sacred, influencing this way numerous cultures. By observing how tea is consumed in Russia, Luca Nichetto has noticed that the infuse is served not in cups but in small bowls without the handle and realized how this small detail gives more solemnity to the whole ritual.

The Aureola tea set is composed of a main body, a filter, and two cups, made in fine porcelain colored in mass and the pigments, obtained from metal powders, are commonly used to create the finest Asian lacquers. As the heat propagates from the center of the bowl towards the outside, so the energy aura of the people involved in the sharing rite seems to expand in wider circles towards the others. From this image takes its name the tea set Aureola, which has on its surface the signs that graphically represent this concept.”

Aureola as well as Sucabaruca are currently on exhibit at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura from June 26th through September 16th.

Istituto Italiano di Cultura
496 Huron St.
Free admission

416-921-3802 ext. 221