as part of their final project from the carl malmsten furniture studies in stockholm, sweden tor and mattias of glimpt, wanted to utilize their woodworking skills and collaborate with craftsmen to create a collection of furniture pieces. this idea lead them to co-operate with craftspeople in south africa, giving them the opportunity to highlight their skills and cultural traditions, contributing to creating more work for the local people. they established contact with furntech -south africa’s centre of excellence for the furniture industry – who willingly accepted to work with the swedish duo. furntech focuses on skills development in furniture manufacturing, looking to improve the quality of the south african wood and furniture industry, offering accredited training programmes as well as support / incubation for small and micro enterprises.

glimpt: south africa project‘sideboard’ is a painted drawer with a massive wooden front, milled grooves allow for easy mounting of the storage unit’s steel base

 

 

tor palm also established contact with a ceramics studio called potters workshop and found different metal workers who were willing to cooperate on the project. the swedish duo spent four weeks in cape town, south africa, working together with the various organizations and individuals they were in contact with, developing a number of prototypes which they wanted to carry a strong feeling of south african culture. the result is: a knock-down stool and sideboard, along with a selection of hand-decorated ceramic lamps. they combined materials and worked with colors and techniques similar to those in south african handicraft.

glimpt: south africa project ‘sideboard’

glimpt: south africa project the ‘sideboard’ broken down

glimpt: south africa project ‘stool’ is a turned seat with milled grooves underneath making it easy to mount its metal legs, no need for screws or fittings

glimpt: south africa project ‘stool’

glimpt: south africa project underside view

glimpt: south africa project the components

glimpt: south africa project ‘floor lamp’this adjustable lamp has an adjustable hand-decorated ceramic shade with massive wooden rear

glimpt: south africa project ‘floor lamp’

glimpt: south africa project up close view of the ceramic shade

glimpt: south africa project ‘ceiling lamp’hand-decorated ceramic lamp shades with colorful, turned pearls which accommodate the electrical cord

glimpt: south africa project ‘ceiling lamp’

glimpt: south africa project in the potter’s workshop

glimpt: south africa project glazing the ceramic pieces

glimpt: south africa project glazing the ceramic pieces

glimpt: south africa project in the potter’s workshop

glimpt: south africa project pieces ready to go into the kiln

glimpt: south africa project tor and mattias with some of the potter’s workshop team

glimpt: south africa project moulds for the lampshades

glimpt: south africa project in the woodshop

glimpt: south africa project lathing  / turning the stool seat

glimpt: south africa project metal worker adjusting stool legs

glimpt: south africa project

glimpt: south africa project discussion of the products