DESIGN /
FEATURES
April 9, 2015
"ISETAN LIVING × HIROCOLEDGE" Everyday Tableware
“ISETAN LIVING×HIROCOLEDGE”
Everyday Tableware: The Joy of Design, Subtly Appearing in Daily Life
The seventh installment of the “ISETAN LIVING×HIROCOLEDGE” feature introduces a tableware series developed by Isetan Living buyer Jozi Azegami with Japan Fine Ceramics Co., Ltd. of Arita.
Text by Jozi Azegami, Tableware Department, Isetan Living Sales Division
Timeless Design, Delight in Every Moment
Isetan Living's theme for this season's "Only I" collection is “Love・Long Lasting.”
With the desire to offer items that can be cherished and used for a long time, we asked Riko-san to design tableware that can be enjoyed every day.
“While prioritizing usability, the design is not overly assertive,” resulting in pieces where patterns subtly appear and disappear, without interfering with the meal.
Timeless design, delight in every moment. Mugs, plates, and mini bowls born from this concept.
Our partner for this collaboration is Japan Fine Ceramics Co., Ltd. of Arita.
This manufacturer, while inheriting Arita's traditional techniques, focuses on bone china, a fine porcelain known for its warm white hue and smooth texture.
On these pieces, Riko-san's signature circles and lines are applied even in places not visible from the front. For example, the mug features a pattern on the underside of the base, where typically only the brand name would be. When you and your partner are having coffee in the morning, your partner across the table can see the pattern. Or, when you wash the dishes and turn them upside down, the pattern suddenly catches your eye.
The plates and bowls have patterns carved into the underside of their bases. By adding decorative elements to the grooves necessary for the production process, a design that leverages functionality was born.
The mug handle was also designed with a focus on creating an easy-to-grip form within its distinctive shape. The printed color on the surface was carefully chosen as a gray close to white, designed to accentuate the beautiful white of the bone china. These are vessels born from subtle, appearing-and-disappearing designs that bring joy to everyday life.
I believe this series successfully combines everyday usability with a unique sense of fun.
We hope you enjoy the world of HIROCOLEDGE that unfolds on your table, along with the accompanying table linens created concurrently for this project.
A Collaboration Focused on Craftsmanship and Design
──Riko TakahashiWhat are your impressions of her work?
Riko-san's designs previously evoked a strong sense of Japan, but working together on this project, I've realized she possesses a broad worldview that allows her to create a wide range of items within the lifestyle category.
I deeply resonate with her sincere approach to craftsmanship, which never compromises on functionality.
Jozi Azegami
Regarding the "ISETAN LIVING × HIROCOLEDGE" project
The term "living" encompasses a wide range of items, from furniture to tableware and stationery. This project, which brings together various manufacturers and artisans under a single concept, with meticulous attention to each manufacturing process and design, is highly significant for us at Isetan Living.
We hope this is not a one-time endeavor, but something we can build upon for the future.
Sales will commence on Wednesday, March 4th.
Starting March 4th, all items will be coordinated at "Stage 5" on the 5th floor of the Isetan Main Building. We aim to express the overall world view.
All of our staff are eager to convey the vision and dedication behind Isetan Living x HIROCOLEDGE to our customers to the fullest extent. We look forward to your visit.
On the tableware series with buyer Azegami (Riko Takahashi)
The fundamental principle was to create vessels that are practical and can be used by customers every day. Following buyer Azegami's guidance, the first consideration was 'how to achieve a subtle design.'
While leveraging the beautiful white of bone china, how could the patterns be expressed without clashing with the colors of food and drinks? Arita's distinctive hand-painted blue underglaze is beautiful, but for this project, we prioritized color and finish precision, opting for transfer printing. Although transfer printing offers high design freedom among pattern techniques, it was not straightforward. With limitations on color components usable for tableware, we repeatedly adjusted the desired colors through prototypes.
When dining, I want people to forget about the tableware and focus on the food. That's precisely why I considered the underside of the vessel as my canvas for expression. I designed with the hope of adding a small, additional pleasure to the essential act of eating, beyond enjoying the colors and flavors of the food.
Through these vessels, I hope to gradually share information about Arita ware and bone china.
Feature: Isetan and Riko Takahashi Collaborate on the Spring 2009 "Only I" Collection, Updated Every Friday!