WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Hayden Phipps
Cape Town-based furniture design studio MŪVEK, known for its furniture and decorative objects that straddle the boundary between art and industry, have unveiled their latest collection of accessories.
For MŪVEK founders Chris van Niekerk and János Cserháti, the objective of good design is to elevate the recurring, often mundane functions of daily life. With this fundamental concept as its foundation, their newest collection of objet d’art places a strong emphasis on both functionality and aesthetics.
“From a designer’s perspective, the inspiring call of this project was to express the singularity of one material and to draw attention to the inherent qualities and differences of solid brass, aluminium and steel,” says János.
Object 1 | Stacking Trays
The concept for these elegant stacking trays has been around since MŪVEK launched their first furniture pieces. The final iteration, now part of this new collection of decorative objects, seamlessly stacks three different-size trays into a compact set.
“Although more commonplace in their function, the trays respond to the need for ad-hoc serving sets or storage for small objects on the table or the desk. The sleek lines and the purity of polished steel elevate these accessories from strictly utilitarian tools to elegant feature pieces,” explains János.
Object 2 | Tealight Candleholder
The tealight candleholder celebrates the classical element of fire and has a substantial heft and presence. The object, crafted in aluminium (above) or solid brass (above top), elevates the everyday ritual of creating fire.
Object 3 | Oil Burner and Dinner Candle Kit
MŪVEK’s tealight holder can be transformed into an oil burner by placing an ingeniously designed insert on its top. The well for the oil is also useful for catching dripping candle wax, lending a third use to this multifaceted design.
Object 4 | Incense Holder
An object of subdued beauty, the incense holder was designed to elevate the practice of burning Japanese incense. As opposed to non-Japanese incense, which includes a wooden core, incense sticks from Japan are crafted from pure rolled incense.
“One of the main inspirations behind these smaller items was to complete (or add to) our existing range with designs that invoke a slightly more transitory sense of comfort than our larger furniture pieces. Creating and watching fire or infusing a room with a delicate scent are everyday rituals that create a sense of warmth and a grounding ambience. Although small, with their refined and confident presence, these objects facilitate multiple ways of creating a characterful environment or setting” says János.
MŪVEK’s new collection will be available online from mid-November.
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