Household items re-imagined as stone age tools. Created using ceramic 3D printing technology.
Neolithic Salt+Pepper Shakers
I decided to create some common household items that would fit in with the design aesthetic of Ode To Things.
“A curated collection of well-designed, quality everyday objects that are special in the way they bring together form, function, and aesthetics.”
Their use of the word “curated” is apt. The objects they sell look like someone put actual thought before adding it to their collection.
And they look like someone put thought into their actual creation. They have a Soy Sauce Cruet that is beautiful – simple, practical, and lovely. Something so . . . not very special but made special by thought and care in design and execution.
Wouldn’t you want something you made in their collection?
I would, so as a design exercise I decided to create something that would fit within their aesthetic – i.e. a practical object a person would use every day, be proud to display, and be used for a long time.
I would, so as a design exercise I decided to create something that would fit within their aesthetic – i.e. a practical object a person would use every day, be proud to display, and be used for a long time.
And be something I made.
After much thought I came up with these Neolithic Salt+Pepper Shakers
Computer Render | Neolithic Salt + Pepper
I wanted to bring primitive and modern form together in a new but entirely recognizable way.
It’s a misnomer to label Neolithic/Paleolithic type objects as primitive. They took skilled crafts-people to develop and make. You’d be hard pressed to make one yourself.
What is wonderful about these artifacts from our past is that they are clear human creations – made by human hands for human hands. Holding one and you know it just feels right, it is meant to be held; Objects that were made to be used and crafted to be used for a long time.
I took that historic precedent and thought about something I use every day. As luck would have it, I went to the kitchen and two culinary tools leapt up to me – the ubiquitous salt and pepper shakers. Seen everywhere, used by everyone, but seldom thought about.
Since I knew the form and the look I was going for I started making some designs. I got a real kick out of the fact that I was designing stone age tools with a computer.
I had a few false starts but eventually arrived at a result I liked and made a few mock ups.
Computer Render | Neolithic Salt + Pepper
There’s something about the chipped stone design with the traditional color choice that informs their use and purpose: these are hand tools for food. I think even one of our ancient ancestors would know that these objects could be picked up – though maybe not their purpose, at least at first.
Presented with the lovely Azmaya Cutting Board.
Computer Render | Neolithic Salt + Pepper
Computer Render | Neolithic Salt + Pepper
These are created using ceramic 3D printing. Fine powder is laid down layer by layer with a binder, fired, glazed, and fired again. One interesting result of using 3DP for these is that each set can be unique.
Since I figured out the basic design, I can now use grasshopper to create infinite variations. Because each stone tool was different it’s paradoxically odd that this computer generated differentiation makes each set authentically unique while the hand made look is a completely a false construct.
So I guess I achieved my goal of bringing primitive and modern together.
And here are the actual porcelain 3D prints.
I like how they came out. I want to try getting them done by a different vendor to have a little more control over the glazing and such.
