A sound-emitting egg sculpture and a samurai chest of drawers feature in a series of objects made by designers in collaboration with master artisans from Japan's Tohoku region, on show for London Design Festival.
Designers Sabine Marcelis, Ini Archibong, Studio Swine, Yoichi Ochiai, Michael Young and Hideki Yoshimoto all participated in the Craft x Tech initiative, with the results now on show at the V&A.
Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves of Studio Swine created a contemporary Sendai-Tansu chest (main image)
Each designer was paired with a different artisan and asked to apply their expertise to a contemporary work.
"Craft x Tech is more than an exhibition; it's a celebration of cultural collaboration and innovation," said designer and engineer Hideki Yoshimoto, who initiated the project. Sabine Marcelis produced tables with a high-gloss finish
"By showcasing these exceptional works, we hope to inspire new dialogues and creative expressions within the design community and beyond," said Yoshimoto.
Marcelis' contribution saw her work with artisans from Akita, who specialise in the Kawatsura Shikki style of lacquerware, to create high-gloss finishes.
Marcelis collaborated with a lacquerware artisan from Akita
Renowned for her colourful Candy Cube furniture, the Dutch designer explored a similarly minimal aesthetic. The use of lacquer gives these pieces their distinctly shiny finish.
Also working with lacquer, American designer Archibong collaborated wi...