Pipa

This side table – inspired by the famous Brazilian kite, ‘pipa’ – was produced in close collaboration with designer David Elia. Working from concept drawings provided by the client, we developed a fabrication methodology to enable the batch production of this bespoke design object. 

The final product was the result of inventive and experimental uses of materials and process, which were reviewed and refined in dialogue with the designer. The kite itself is a replica of a traditional ‘pipa’ fabricated in maple dowel, 24ct gold thread and linen coated in gold leaf.  

The table surface, which references a wire spool, was milled and shaped in our wood workshop from solid maple.  Steel sheet was rolled in-house and wrapped with steel wire to create the form of the reel, before being sent to our partners at Fox Plating to achieve a gold finish.  The wheeled base was sourced by the client and modified to his specification in our metal workshop. The elongated shaft was then chrome plated and polished by Fox Plating, before being returned to our workshop for final assembly.