CLOUD
“I really can’t think of anybody who’s immune to the beauty of clouds… I’ve used clouds for an inspiration for this new collection of serve ware which is strangely called ‘Cloud’.” – Tom Dixon
CLOUD is a collection of expressive and sculptural pieces made of highly reflective polished aluminium, launched in February 2021. The organic shapes of the vessels are reminiscent of seedpods.
“I knew I wanted something rounded and asymmetrical. I think people are increasingly looking for things that are slightly softer. Spending inordinate amounts of time on computers or on Zoom like we’re doing now is causing us to seek something less synthetic.”
“Their ephemeral nature, their softness, their transparency, their luminosity, make them really hard to capture. I’ve been trying to do it in metal for a really long time.”
The Design:
Tom’s background in metal working and fascination with the vanishing skills of hand panel beating inspired the aesthetics of the range. The handcrafted artefacts are hammered and braised by skilled artisans in India. The marks from the maker – every hammer and indentation from stretching and warping the metal are preserved in the final product to reflect the amount of work that’s gone into the design. Whilst pitting and welds will be controlled with set tolerances, they will never be completely invisible. These are the unique marks of the skilled hand makers and are a celebration of the craft.
The Materiality:
Aluminium was chosen for CLOUD, not just because of its lightweight beauty and malleability, but also its environmental friendliness. With 75% of aluminium ever used still in consumption today, it is one of the most recycled and recyclable materials available. In this closed-loop process, we see the infinite, cyclical nature of this metal being used, recycled, and repurposed.
The Function:
Our team at the Coal Office, our London restaurant, noticed a lack of containers to hold large quantities of food and drink. In response, we created CLOUD, a collection that did just that.
“When you want to host a big party (when we’re allowed to) you can’t use a domestic tray - you need a more generous platter to serve the masses.”
The CLOUD collection bridges the gap between functional serve ware and decorative pieces. The organic shapes are reminiscent of seedpods and can be used for a variation of purposes, such as a vase, fruit bowl and champagne bucket.
“If you want to create large and extravagant floral arrangements with budding branches or tall orchid stems, you need a substantial vessel.”
Explore the CLOUD Collection:
Each vessel has its own distinct silhouette, shape and personality.
Cloud Vessel Tall Cloud Vessel Short
Cloud Bowl Cloud Platter
Cloud Platter
Cloud is a large sculptural platter made of highly reflective polished aluminium. Handmade in India by skilled artisans, each platter has unique qualities with every hammer and indentation from stretching and warping the metal being preserved, reflecting the amount of work that’s gone into the design. The silver platter's shape is reminiscent of seedpods and can be used for a variation of purposes, such as a fruit bowl.
Cloud Bowl
Cloud is a large sculptural bowl made of highly reflective polished aluminium. Handmade in India by skilled artisans, each bowl has unique qualities with every hammer and indentation from stretching and warping the metal being preserved, reflecting the amount of work that’s gone into the design. The silver bowl has a shape reminiscent of seedpods and can be used for a variation of purposes, such as a fruit bowl.
Cloud Vessel Short
Cloud is a sculptural short vessel made of highly reflective polished aluminium. Handmade in India by skilled artisans, each vessel has unique qualities with every hammer and indentation from stretching and warping the metal being preserved, reflecting the amount of work that has gone into the design. The silver vessel's shape is reminiscent of seedpods and can be used for a variation of purposes, such as a champagne bucket or as a vase.
