MJÖLK MADE
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AUREOLA by Luca Nichetto + Lera Moiseeva
Aureola Tea Service
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.”
Available winter 2014
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SUCABARUCA by Luca Nichetto + Lera Moiseeva
Sucabaruca coffee service
"Sucabaruca" is a coffee set that consists of a porcelain coffee pot, 3 cups, pour-over dripper, and maple wood tray with walnut legs. The collection is designed by Venice and Stockholm based designer Luca Nichetto for Toronto based gallery and shop Mjölk. The set is made by local artisans, ceramicist Alissa Coe, and by woodworker Adrian Kuzyk.
The set debuts as a prototype during Luca Nichetto's first North American exhibition at Mjölk January 22nd 2014.
The collection will be available to purchase Spring/Summer 2014.
Here is what Luca Nichetto had to say about the design concept:
The idea of “Sucabaruca” coffee set stemmed from the encounter with John Baker and Juli Daoust Baker in September 2013 at their gallery in Toronto. After their experience with the studio Claesson Koivisto Rune, they encouraged me to realize in turn a product suited to their gallery/shop using only the craft resources available in the area. The common thread previously woven by my friends and colleagues Mårten, Eero and Ola seemed to be the way to go and so I wanted to create a product that could also complement their project “Ceremony”.
For many years now my life has been divided between Stockholm and Venice, the town where I was born and where Caffè Florian – among the oldest cafés in Europe – is, I immediately came up with the idea of designing a coffee set that aims to combine the modern ritual of filtered coffee, which unites several countries including North America and Scandinavia, with the renowned tradition of my land, where coffee has been a cult drink for centuries.
The “Sucabaruca” coffee set is rich in cultural and formal references that come from the influences of several people involved in the project. The main cone-shaped body is reminiscent of “Carmencita”, the famous character created by Armando Testa in 1966 for the tv show “Carosello”. The patterns, hand-engraved in the ceramic, are meant to emphasize the uniqueness of the pieces, as well as for the tray, manufactured using materials such as Canadian maple wood, which always reveal new and unique patterns when carved. Just like in a game, the set elements can be stacked and combined as desired, indulging in the different personalities offered by 3 colour palettes, from total white, inspired by the fashion designer Martin Margiela, to pastel tones, characteristic of Japanese architecture, and eventually pop colours, a tribute to the eclectic artist Jean-Paul Goude.
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CEREMONY by Claesson Koivisto Rune
Ceremony milk and sugar set with reversible tray (brass pot rest / maple serving board)
CEREMONY is the first product collaboration between Swedish architect firm and Toronto based Mjolk.The set is comprised of a reversible tray, porcelain milk pitcher, and wood sugar bowl lid.The tray is made from Canadian maple, with a 3mm solid brass top. The metal side of the tray can be used as a pot trivet for putting a hot kettle on, and the wood side can be used for serving cookies and biscuits.The tray is made by 4 separate artisans in Toronto.
Here is what Claesson Koivisto Rune had to say about the design:
"As a highlight of the exhibition Claesson Koivisto Rune + Mjölk we set out to design something unique for Mjölk. Having learnt about the philosophy of Mjölk and being encouraged by owners John Baker and Juli Daoust to choose handicraft techniques available in and around Toronto, we decided to design a milk and sugar set for your coffee or tea: A small porcelain pitcher, a wooden lid that doubles as a sugar bowl and a tray with one wood side for some cake and one iron side for the hot kettle. Very straight forward, but why these things?
Well, we were intrigued by the name Mjölk which is ’milk’ in Swedish. A kind of an odd name for a design store in Canada. So shouldn’t they then carry a milk pitcher, we thought? Kind of silly reason for a design, perhaps. But like any endeavor, grand or small, you only need a reason.
Swedish life in general is rather informal. Society has done away with most old fashioned rituals and form of address. But we do drink a lot of coffee. In fact, Sweden ranks as the world’s top consumer of it. In business and in private it is customary to serve coffee or ’fika’ whenever we meet. And it’s always very casually offered, but in its practice fika is in fact a kind of modern ceremony. Up to five or eight times a day.
We have of course encountered the strictly ritual Japanese tea ceremony. And from where we come from a first thought may well be that it is a very meticulous method to drink a small amount of hot fluid. But, that’s only if you don’t see the real purpose which is about everything else other than drinking, like elegance, refinement and the enhancement of the soul.
Without being too philosophical about it we thought it could be a good idea to propose a marriage between the eastern and western way of drinking coffee or tea with the help of decent serving tools; To add a dash of ceremony to our own casual ritual.
Welcome to our fika. Or, if that’s not your cup of tea, the pitcher works equally well for maple syrup."
Available here
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Shoji Cabinet by Studio Junction Architects
A Wall mounted media cabinet inspired by mid-century Danish cabinet making, and Jpanese Shoji Screens. Made in solid white oak with dove-tail corners and raw linen panels.
Available here
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Baking Cart by Studio Junction Architects
It wasn't too long ago that the tea cart was a much needed extension to the family home. It was much more common 30 or more years ago that the dining room was a separate entity from the kitchen, and things like formal living rooms were used for high tea in the afternoon. In contemporary times things like dining rooms and formal living rooms have become redundant, and this is probably for the best. However there are some things that were lost in this transition that we feel could have easily found a place in the modern family home.
Tea carts are an extension of the kitchen, they are on wheels and can be used to easily shuffle everything from tea or alcohol, to desserts from the kitchen to table. When necessary the tea cart can take on an important presence, and at the same time be quietly tucked against the wall when not in use. We made the top tray of the tea cart removable to be used like a tray when serving tea. This solves the awkwardness of moving many teacups and desserts at one time, but also provides a thoughtful presentation.
A reoccurring theme that Studio Junction has been exploring the court yard as an architectural element, and thinking of the kitchen in terms of a piece of furniture. When using this bar cart, it becomes an extension of the kitchen to the outdoor space. This could be the same for any Toronto backyard or balcony and brings an element from the inside of your home to the outside further blurring the line.
In addition to our tea cart, we also designed a larger baking cart which is also on wheels. Traditionally these baking carts would be used for cooling cakes and pies, and where appropriate could be wheeled into a bake shop to be used as additional display. In the spirit of seeing old baking racks being repurposed as shelving for books and decorative accessories, we re-imagined the utilitarian baking cart in the modern home.
We imagine our baking cart in the kitchen, with a collection of pots and pans, mixing bowls, tea pots, and cooking books. These are things that are needed within arms length and do not necessarily have to be squirrelled away in a drawer.
Available here
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Additional Mjolk Made Products: