Limpid Stream Glass Tableware by Keiji Ishikawa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Bronze A' Design Award in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Competition Category.
BronzeKitchenware· 2021
Limpid Stream Glass Tableware
Client: KJ studio
Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Kitchenware Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #106692The Design
About Limpid Stream Glass Tableware
The design Limpid Stream is a mass of rhythmically arranged cat's pupil and it makes people feel as if they filled in the flow of waterfall. And the upper view of a mass of cat's pupils is interesting by reflecting the other cat's pupils when transparent liquor is poured because the cat's pupil is cut into V shape at a wide angle. So this visual effect makes mind refreshed in the water flow and gives people a sense of peace of mind. There are various types of Limpid Stream glassware such as wine glasses, sake cups, plates and rocks glasses, which enrich daily life.
The Recognition
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Limpid Stream Glass Tableware is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Limpid Stream Glass Tableware is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Limpid Stream Glass Tableware splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Interviews
Grand Interview
Your innovative approach to Japanese Kiriko cut glass in Limpid Stream Glass Tableware creates a mesmerizing visual effect of flowing water - could you share the journey that led to this unique fusion of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design?
I was experimenting with expressing the flow of water by arranging streamlined droplets. I eventually arrived at a design where I rhythmically layered what I call "cat's pupil patterns" with fine, streamlined cuts, leaving small and large gaps. In kiriko glass cutting, layering numerous intricate cuts is essential to achieve a balanced arrangement. However, as no preliminary sketching is possible, it requires years of craftsmanship to maintain balance while executing the cuts skillfully. The result was the creation of a fantastical visual effect.
The cat's pupil pattern in Limpid Stream Glass Tableware creates fascinating reflections when liquid is poured - what inspired you to incorporate this specific geometric element, and how did you perfect the precise V-shaped cutting angle to achieve this effect?
The "cat's pupil pattern" was inspired and designed while exploring droplet shapes necessary to express water flow. The cutting angles of the grinding wheel attached to the kiriko glass-cutting machine were precisely calculated to cut this cat's pupil pattern. Since standard commercial products couldn't accommodate the required specifications, a specially customized grinding wheel was ordered from the manufacturer.
Having overcome the challenge of developing custom grinding wheels for Limpid Stream Glass Tableware, how did this technical innovation process influence your overall approach to glass cutting and design?
The shape of the "cat's pupil pattern" changes depending on the cutting angle of the grinding wheel. Therefore, simulations were conducted in advance to analyze the grinding shapes at different angles. By arranging these simulated shapes, extensive trial and error was undertaken to determine how the overall design balance would be affected. Through this process, the most optimal wheel angle was derived.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The designed glassware is in the motif of Limpid Stream. It has a beautiful visual effect which makes mind refreshed in the water flow and gives people a sense of well-being and peace of mind. Also, it makes the liquor and dishes more delicious. This design is a mass of rhythmically arranged cat's pupil and it makes you feel as if you comfortably filled in the flow of water. As you see, there are various types of glassware such as wine glasses, sake cups, plates and rocks glasses.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The product dimensions are as follows: In the main image, the wine glass is 58mm in diameter and 150mm in height, the sake cup is 60mm in diameter and 60mm in height. In the optional image #1 the wine glass is 68mm in diameter and 174mm in height. In the optional image #3 the plate is 150mm in diameter and 33mm in height. In the optional image #4 the rocks glass is 77mm in diameter and 92mm in height.
- Tags
- kiriko, cutglass, japaneseglassware, glassart
- Production Technology
- The double layered glassware is carefully ground and polished by hand using Japanese Kiriko cut glass technology.
- Design Challenge
- The wheels installed in the grinding machine sold to a general user, cannot cut the shape of cat's pupil. So I calculated the cutting-plane angle of the wheel and ordered the customized wheel to a manufacturer of grinding machine.
- Research
- In order to realize the project Limpid Stream, it was necessary to prepare for the grinding machine to cut the shape of cat's pupil.
- Inspiration
- Through Japanese Kiriko cut glass, the project has aimed to enrich human lives. The idea of a Limpid Stream is come up with because at one point, the flow of water in nature healed human feelings and the design pattern was inspired by the rhythmic sound of water.
- Project Duration
- The project started in May 2019 in Tokushima, Japan and finished in December 2019, and the design got a copyright in registered designs in July 1st 2020 in Japan.
- Operation Flow
- The top view of the glass tableware realized by Limpid Stream is very beautiful because a mass of cat's pupils is reflecting the other cat's pupils inside the glass by cutting the cat's pupil into V shape at a large angle shown in the optional image #2. And the design is not only beautiful but also very smooth to the touch and shock-resistant because the cut of cat's pupil is shallow in depth.
- Patents
- Patented. Design registration No.1663995, Keiji Ishikawa, 2020, Japan Patent Office.
- Image Credits
- Video Credits:
The top view of the glass tableware realized by Limpid Stream is so beautiful as if you filled in the flow of shining water in nature healed human feelings when water is poured, shown in the video.
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