Hasta La Ideas

Milan 2014: Dutch studio Scholten & Baijings has designed a series of marble tables decorated with engraved geometric patterns that contrast with the natural veined surface of the stone.

Scholten & Baijings created the Solid Patterns series for Italian marble producer Luce di Carrara and used different types of marble from the company’s quarry in Tuscany to produce five unique pieces.

“The collection is inspired by the uniqueness of marble quarried from the depths of the Apuan Alps,” said the designers. “Designing was all about expressing the various characteristics of the marble in a single form, merging mass, colour, unique line patterns and circular shapes.”

Thin table tops with irregular rounded edges combine with bases shaped as columns, truncated cones, faceted blocks or fluid curving forms.

In some cases, Scholten & Baijings applied its signature geometric patterns to the table tops, while other examples feature lines engraved into the bases.

“Adding grid patterns to the designs has created a contemporary look that enhances the contrast between the graphics and the crystalline marble patterns,” the designers added.

The largest table in the series can be used as a dining or conference table. It features a base made from a single block of white-beige marble, embellished with a subtle pattern of vertical lines.

Two low coffee tables, one produced from brown-beige Lericy marble and another from a pink-hued stone, feature criss-crossing diagonal lines covering their top surfaces.

One of two taller tables for seating three to four people has a base made from a hollowed-out block of grey marble with a pattern of vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines. A similar pattern applied to the other table’s base emphasises the accuracy of its faceted form.

The collection was presented at Spazio Rossana Orlandi in Milan during last week’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

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into marble table collection appeared first on Dezeen.

Milan 2013: this silver serving set for tea and cake was designed by Dutch studio Scholten & Baijings for Danish silverware and jewellery company Georg Jensen and launched at Spazio Rossana Orlandi last week.

Scholten & Baijings’ Tea with Georg collection for Georg Jensen is based on items used in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, but with added pieces to incorporate the Dutch designers’ love of coffee.

The collection includes a teapot with a sieve, a teapot warmer, a creamer and a sugar bowl, all made from stainless steel.

There is also a porcelain cup and saucer and a double-walled stainless steel espresso cup and saucer.

The set is completed with light blue porcelain dessert plates, a glossy porcelain cake platter and a cake stand that combines a matt porcelain platter with a stainless steel stand.

The tea set was shown at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, where Slovenian designer Nika Zupanc also presented folding lamps powered by wind-up keys – see all news and products from Milan.

Scholten & Baijings recently designed a range of coloured glassware for Danish brand Hay and last year in Milan the studio launched tableware based on the archives of a Japanese porcelain company.

Last year Danish private equity group Axcel sold the Georg Jensen brand to a Bahrain-based investment bank for $140m.

Photographs are by Scheltens & Abbenes.

Here’s some more information from the designer:

At the invitation of Georg Jensen, Scholten & Baijings designed a Tea & Cake collection entitled ‘Tea with Georg’. The title is a nod to the company’s Danish founder, Georg Jensen.

The collection consists of a stainless steel teapot, tea warmer, porcelain cup and saucer, stainless steel espresso cup and saucer, creamer, sugar bowl, cake stand, cake platter and individual porcelain dessert plates.

The design for this everyday tableware is based on a study conducted into the Japanese tea ceremony, freely interpreted for Western use by Scholten & Baijings. Starting point for the design process is the symbolic value the Japanese attach to the tea ceremony, as well as their love of aesthetics, the appreciation of traditional handicraft and the beauty of the material in general.

The teapot with tea sieve and warmer, executed in stainless steel, form the basis of this collection. The design reflects all the qualities of the Georg Jensen brand: the skilful metalwork, the high degree of precision and the meticulous surface finish.

Aside from being tea enthusiasts, Scholten & Baijings are also passionate about high-quality espresso and cappuccino. That’s why in addition to the porcelain cup and saucer they also designed a special double-walled stainless steel espresso cup with accompanying saucer. The saucer features an exclusive detail: an etched line that runs till the centre of the saucer.

In the case of the porcelain teacup with saucer, the line has been executed in silver and runs through the centre of the saucer. This is a reference to the original ‘Silversmithy’, the workplace of Georg Jensen, renowned for his silver products. By also making use of other materials, such as porcelain and coloured synthetics, and by applying different textures, patterns and colours that are recognizable features of Scholten & Baijings’ signature, ‘Tea with Georg’ forms a perfect family. The pieces also combine attractively with existing services.

In addition to cups and saucers, the collection comprises plates and platters for cakes, savoury titbits, fruit and delicacies. The porcelain plates have been hand decorated with light-blue colour gradients. This makes every plate unique. There are two variations: one version with gradients from inside to outside, and vice versa.

There is a large, matching, high-gloss porcelain cake platter with soft blue colour gradients running from inside to outside. The cake stand, conversely, has a stainless steel foot holding a mat porcelain platter decorated with a fine black grid. For the true tea lover, there is a porcelain teacup that, of course, can also be used for cappuccino. The handle grows thicker as it extends over the cup in a flowing motion.

It is thanks to nearly 400 years of Japanese experience in the manufacture of porcelain and the use of innovative production techniques that this ingenious detail can be produced in series. Scholten & Baijings take pride in this unique collaboration. East literally meets West in this unique project that brings Japan and Denmark together.

The post Tea with Georg by Scholten & Baijings
for Georg Jensen appeared first on Dezeen.

Milan 2012: Dutch designers Scholten & Baijings showed a varied service based on the archives of hand-painted porcelain company 1616 Arita Japan at Spazio Rossana Orlandi in Milan last week.

The Colour Porcelain collection is decorated with three different levels of intensity, selecting traditional colours from the company’s archives on the the pale grey background of natural porcelain.

Each set includes plates, cups, bowls, serving platters, candleholders, vases and a tea set.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile took place from 17 to 22 April. See all our stories about Milan 2012 here and see more images in our Facebook album and on our Pinterest board.

You can see all our stories about ceramics here.

Here’s some more information from Scholten & Baijings:

At the request of 1616 Arita, one of the oldest (1616) Japanese porcelain manufacturers, Scholten & Baijings designed a very comprehensive porcelain service. The collection consists of three series: Minimal, Colourful and Extraordinary. In addition to exclusive plates, cups and bowls, each series also comprises serving platters, candleholders, vases and a tea set.

The distinctive Japanese Arita porcelain is renowned for its superb quality, where fine hand-painted decorations play a central role. The tradition of porcelain painting dates back to 1616, when the abducted Korean potter Yi Sam-Sam-Pyeong discovered a superior quality clay in Arita.

For the collection of 1616 Arita, Scholten & Baijings prepared a colour analysis involving historical masterpieces. Typical Japanese colours, such as aquarelle blue, light green, red-orange and yellow ochre, were the ones that played a prominent role.

These colours have been used individually in the new designs, but together they form the specific Arita colour spectrum. The results are layered colour compositions, executed in different shades of glaze, in combination with the natural porcelain colour. The latter has a special delicate grey-white hue, which makes it unique in the world.

The names of the series refer to the amount of colour, details and patterns used. ‘Colour Porcelain – Extraordinary’ is the most elaborately finished version.

By applying the compositions to an extremely functional service, a splendid dialogue has been created between applied art and everyday use. The combination of this traditional craftsmanship and Scholten & Baijings’ recognizable signature style has resulted in a unique mix of Asian and European culture.