CLOSE TO EARTH SELECTION
Selection of objects like vases or pots made by artists like Malgorzata Lyszczarz, Mandy Pang or Agnieszka Bar
SPICE GRINDERS BY BUILT EDITIONS
AN ODD TO INDIAN CRAFTSMANSHIP IN CHANNAPATNA
Build Editions is a collection of objects designed by architecture and design studio Site Practice
The collection of design objects is the result of profound collaborations with artisans and craftspeople from around the country, celebrating Indian craftsmanship in contemporary and unique design objects.
These beautiful objects reminding of wooden totems like out this world, finished of lacquered timber in astonishing pallete of colors, is a result of amazing collaboration between designers and craftsmen from Channapatna in India. Paying a tribute to forgotten yet still practiced craft of making a wooden toys in this amazing city.
Crafted by artisans from 'Toy Makers Town' Channapatna, the Spice Grinder is made from turned wood and lacquered inan array of vivid colours. The grinders, both unique and practical, add a distinctive touch to any dining table or kitchen. The lacquer is derived from natural dyes, made from plant-based pigments such as turmeric, kumkum and indigo. Available in a rich and deep-toned palette and in two different sizes, the grinders can be used as either a pepper mill or a salt grinder.
WHAT IS CHANNAPATNA?
The city in state of Karnataka in India is know for it’s long tradition of making a wooden toys, known also as "Gombegala nagara" Town of Toys.The origin of these toys is dated back to the reign of Tipu Sultan Indian Muslim ruler in end of XVIII centurycommonly referred to as a “Tiger of a Mysore” who invited the artisans from Persia in order to train the local artisans in the art of wooden toy making.
HOW TO USE THE GRINDERS?
TIIPOI
A UNION OF CRAFT, CULTURE AND COMMITMENT
Established in 2013 as a design studio and producer based between Bangalore and London, TIIPOI presents design and artisanal ingenuity through a modern lens.Across the Indian subcontinent are hundreds of functional and well-designed products hiding in plain sight around homes, offices, workshops, train stations and street corners. From stainless steel thalis and terracotta pots to the ubiquitous chai glass, historical craftsmanship and agile manufacturing processes are part of Indian daily life
With their own range of homewares, decorative objects and textiles, they have established rigorous production systems that have been scaled locally and are ethically sustainable. The provenance of material and responsible manufacture is an essential aspect of each design story. TiiPoi collaborates with crafts clusters across India with a focus on black pottery, metal spinning, wood turning, glass blowing and textile weaving.
LONGPI COOKWARE
KARIPOTS, KARIPANS AND KARIBOWLS
The ceramic pots are completely hand-built from a combination of river clay and ground stone sourced from Longpi, in the North East of India. The hand-burnishing process used during the making of KARIPOTS gives them a naturally non-stick surface making it ideal for slow cooking or one-pot everyday meals. Oils and ingredients are preserved while cooking as the pots recirculate moisture and preserves flavour. All clay cooking pots can be used on both gas and electric hob and in the oven.
COPPER SERVEWARE AND JARS BY TIIPOI
LOHA BOWL
LOHA, is a 3 litre copper bowl with Lid. Hand-spun from copper sheets in our workshop, LOHA is an ideal baking tool, and exceptional for whisking egg whites. It can also be used as a serving or fruit bowl with the lid doubling up as a plate.
SAMA TRAY
SAMA, which means ‘circle’ in Sanskrit, is our range of everyday serving trays. Each oneis pressed from a 1mm sheet of copper or brass. SAMA trays are lacquered, which prevents them from patinating over time.
AYASA JARS
AYASA COPPER is a stackable storage jar with an airtight wooden lid. Available in two sizes, each one is made on a traditional spinning machine and comes with a hand-turned lid made from Sheesham, an indigenous hardwood from India that is sustainably sourced. Available in two sizes, this jar is airtight and perfect for storing tea or coffee.
WHAT IS LONGPI?
The name 'Longpi' means 'group lodge in Tanghkul dialect Local myths suggests that the name was coined based on the strategic location of the village. It is said that the villages serve as transit point for travelers in olden days. Before the introduction of common salt, people from all over Tangkhul villages goes to Kalhang, Marem and Maremphung to fetch salt water and baked salt. It was during these travels that people stop over at Longpi for the nights and were treated as guests by the longpian. The place thus, came to be known as 'group lodge' or Longpi. Longpi is famous for age old pottery making locally called Longpi Ham. It is believed that Longpi ham used to be the main cooking utensil among the Tangkhuls before the advent of aluminum pots. Longpi ham as of today has attained national and international popularity. Longpi pottery is one unique art where the potters do not use the potter's wheel.
Pictures show making process of Longpi cookware.
COOK WITH US
DAL TADKA IN LONGPI COOKWARE
Lentils, stewed and then topped with sizzling aromatic spices, is a staple accompaniment to most of Indian meals. Tadka pronounced ter-ka, describes the tempered spices. This recipe comes from one of our favorite cook books - MASALA Indian Cooking for Modern Living by Malika Basu, well with our tiny twist..As this is the recipe we make every time whenever we like to comfort ourselves, this time we would like to share it with others.
185 (1 cup) red split lentils
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
Full kettle of freshly boiled water
Salt
FOR TADKA
1 generous tsp ghee
1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds / or grounded cumin
2 whole dried chillies
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1 tiny burned onion
1 burned garlic clove
Remember the most time consuming part of making dal is bubbling it with slow addition of water to get the lentils to soften into a smooth soup like texture.
Wash the red lentils under the cold tap until the water runs clear. Then drain and put into a small Karipan cookware or Karipan, with enough cold water to completely submerge them, around 1,5 cups of water.
While boiling into a medium high heat, foam will rise to the surface- just skim it off.
Next step is to stir in turmeric, which will give it a juicy yellow color. Keep it bubbling adding from time to time bit of a hot water to get the right texture. That is a time to lover the heat and add tiny burned onion and a garlic clove and seasoning to taste, like salt, cumin or dry coriander, we give also a big spoon of ghee into a smooth paste while adding turmeric.
Last step, put the ghee into a small pan and place over a medium heat. We add mustard seeds red chillies and chilli powder. As they sizzle up, stir this through your dal.
Serve piping hot with a bowl of rise or rotis, and raita!
MAKE YOUR TABLE PERFECT FOR THIS MEAL
AJRAKH
THE ANCIENT CRAFT OF BLOCK -PRINTING
Our journey with this technique started with book research, but soon enough source of good contacts led us to this amazing place called Ajrakhpur town of no limits when it goes towards this incident technique.
Ajrakh is one of the oldest types of block-printing and resist dying on textiles still practised in some regions of India and Pakistan. The fabric is printed on both sides, with impressions exactly matching, making it quite often reversible fabric. This work requires around 4 weeks and very skilled person who can stamp the fabric with exquisite precision.
An Ajrakh piece is printed in this particular case with one set of blocks, in set I mean three to five blocks. A separate block is required for each pattern and colour. After printing, the process of rinsing and boiling the fabric with alizarin is followed. After 15 days of reputable movements the fabric is ready.We made decision of incorporating this technique to our designs creating bathrobes made of very delicate mul mul cotton.
WHAT IS AJRAKH?
The art of block-printing on cotton cloth has been practiced in India for over 4,500 years. In fact, excavations at the sites of the Indus Valley Civilization provide evidence that block-printing on cotton cloth in geometric patterns was possibly one of the oldest methods in the Indian subcontinent. The word ‘ajrakh’is derived from the word ‘azarukh’meaning blue in Arabic and Persian. Ajrakh has the universe, or the sky as its theme. The blue symbolizes the sky, the red twilight and the night is indicated by black.
AJRAKH NIGHTWARE COLLECTION BY SĀR
Unique collection made by Ajrakhpur crafters and designed by us available in showroom
