This object, which at first sight may seem like an item of jewellery, is in fact a trivet by the young designer Gabriele Chiave. Devised to dangle from a kitchen hook, it can be taken down and thrown like dice onto the dining table. Once a suitable position has been found for the article upon the table it transforms into a prop for boiling saucepans, scorching oven trays or hot serving dishes. Worthy of note is the contrast (present more often than one might think in the history of kitchen utensils) between the functional use of this unassuming item and the opportunity for aesthetic redemption presented by its decorative and stylish features.
Chiave Gabriele
Gabriele Chiave was born in 1978 in Metz. Two years later he moved with his family, spending 4 years in Dakar, 5 in Caracas, 2 in Buenos Aires, 3 in Rome ,where he completed his French baccalaureat diploma, and then 9 years in Milan where he studied Industrial Design at IED, participating and exhibiting during he’s studies in projects such as Emergency, Rotari, Epson,Toshiba and Pirelli.
In 2000 he started working for several design studios, such as Syn design, Fabio Rotella, and Lorenza Bozzoli. From 2003 to 2006 he worked in Marc Sadler’s studio being part of the Ideal Standard European research center, but also working with several renown design companies such as Dainese, Foscarini, Serralunga.
From 2002 till 2006 he assisted in the organization and development of 7 Workshops held by LPWK/ALESSI, together with the Alessi team and international designers, in order to develop new typologies and meta-projects for the company.
Since beginning 2007 he moved to Amsterdam working as head of the design team for Marcel Wanders studio working for international renowed design companies.
www.gabrielechiave.com
LPWK
Born in Bergamo, Italy, Laura Polinoro graduated in Drama Art and Music Studies in Bologna. Her first job was in the field of contemporary dance as art director and costume and set designer. Later she undertook research at the Domus Academy in Milan. From 1990 to 1998 she was in charge of the Centro Studi Alessi, where she operated as meta-project designer and art director, coordinating workshops both in-house and in association with various universities and design institutes the world over. She was also involved in publishing and communications activities. Items which entered production in that period are identified with the acronym “CSA”. Since 2004 products overseen by Ms. Polinoro have been identified with the letters "LPWK"