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Detail of the Snailportrait

Shippo Plate
Snailportrait

designer:
Hella Jongerius

design year:
2007

manufacturer:
Cibone, Japan

materials:
enamelled and punched copper

notes:
Enamelling was used in Europe in the Middle Ages, applied on jewellery, and again the 20th century to create outdoor advertising signs. Due to the great expense in fabrication and the fragile nature of the material, enamelling has become rare, and the technique now has been almost completely forgotten. In Japan, however, it has been carefully preserved - a fact which inspired Jongerius to visit the country and learn more about the artisans who still work in this medium.

Jongerius writes:

"Traditional enamelling techniques open up possibilities that are in perfect harmony with my working methods and ideas about design. Furthermore, this technique shows strong similarities to the ceramics with which I often work. Like glaze on clay, enamel gives objects a multicolored, lustrous skin, an effect that is almost impossible to obtain with other techniques. And enamelling allows skilled artisans to make very delicate drawings on the surface. That provided opportunities that mesh with the subjects I am working on now.

The Japanese enamelling experts (Shippo masters from Nagoya) introduced us to the technique, showing the results of years of tradition and refinement. For a designer like me, respect and appreciation are the only possible response to such a display of artistry. Inspired by this body of knowledge, we have aimed to wholeheartedly celebrate the wealth and diversity of enamelling techniques and the differences between Dutch and Japanese culture, in new designs that bring the present and past together."

dimensions:
Ø 16.5"

price:
$6,900.00