Wrapping up this year's DENFAIR Highlights with a few more standouts, the first is Halcyon Lake, who presented their incredible new Amadi Collection of hand-knotted rugs. Inspired by an exploration of traditional African culture, the rugs are hand-woven in the highlands of Afghanistan. Designed to improve with age and develop a patina in the tradition of antique carpets, the breath-takingly beautiful rugs are characterised by vast and varied geometric designs.
Comprising over twenty made-to-order designs, each rug unexpectedly interrupts its classically linear construction with complex visual compositions, underscoring the quality and skill of traditional weaving techniques and the depth of history instilled in each piece.
The Wood Room was a new discovery for me this year at DENFAIR. Specialising in high end handcrafted Australian made furniture, their beautiful stand (awarded Highly Commended in the Best Large Stand Category) and new collection pieces left a lasting impression. The Bell Table, designed in collaboration with Richards Stanisich was a talking point for many. Inspired by the simple pleasure of bringing people together, it has a tactile simplicity and soft edges. I love the round shape and exquisite sculpted base, which has been handcrafted from solid timber.
The Wood Room also unveiled the new Trim Collection by Patryk Koca. Comprising of a coffee table, dining table, arm chair and lounger, the pieces reflect the new wave of Australian design —"an amalgamation of timeless mid-century influence and a robust detailing necessitated by our unique living scale, interior planning, market demands and manufacturing technologies". As with all of The Wood Room pieces, the Trim Collection can be fully customised to suit any residential or commercial setting.
One of the standouts at last year's DENFAIR Sydney Edition, The Raconteur recreated their beautifully ethereal stand to showcase their range of handmade luxury scent based products made from Australia’s native botanicals.
The Raconteur won the DENFAIR 2019 award for Best Medium Stand.
After discovering the work of Makiko Ryujin through featuring Fiona Lynch's Experimental Gallery earlier this year, it was exciting to see the pieces in real life. Melbourne-based designer Makiko Ryujin’s Shinki series of burnt vessels draws on her Japanese heritage, where the sacredness and form of the bowls within her culture inform the proportions and design of the objects.
Makiko Ryujin - Shinki Burning Vessels won the DENFAIR Front/Centre Emerging Designer Award.
To see all the TDC DENFAIR 2019 highlights, take a look here.