LET ME FIND A PLACE TO SIT at the edge of the Earth, where life starts and ends, where the ocean touches the land and caresses it with salty waves. Let me sit here on my chair and listen to the murmuring of my soul, then let me tell you a story about the special places where we’ve been this past year.
For days we worked in an otherworldly realm of rain, shadows and mist – at times the windows trembled in the gale-force winds and during the night, the crashing surf kept us awake. Thankfully, we worked inside with the fireplace lit and a lively conversation to keep us warm. When the storm finally passed, we went outside and explored the forest and beach. As the sun warmed our skin, the jackets peeled away and our collective mood changed. After these days of confinement, everyone in our photography crew felt the euphoria of being outside in nature. We tried to capture this within the pages of this catalogue, and although you can’t hear the chatter of the eagle on the beach or smell the wet mosses, we hope we have distilled these essences into your imagination. ¶ From sun to rain, day to night, transpiring leaves to inert minerals, you will see the fingerprint of nature through all that we do. Our products come from around the world and are as fresh and real as the place where we photograph them. We’ve used yellow, the colour of the sun, to punctuate our collection with optimism. We have included stories about Colombia, Morocco, Vietnam and China, where some of our products originate. These are places where handicraft has a long tradition and natural materials are used to make the most beautiful things for our contemporary homes. ¶ As much as possible, we have left our products natural so they can be appreciated for their raw beauty, their cracks, natural markings, colours and patterns. Wood and stone are living materials and they change with the cycles of the seasons and differing climates. Zen Buddhist writings suggest that an intolerance for the imperfections of wood and stone are associated with the failure to accept the inherently frustrating nature of existence. Perhaps, we all need a little more Zen and a few more cracks and imperfections in our lives.
B LUE FA D E D OPALESCEN C E
AQUA
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BA RK
BLU E
LIC HEN S
D E N I M
SPLASHES
PR IMO RD IAL
DR IPS
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STRIPES
A N T IQ U E CRAQ U E LLE
L AY E R E D
C OLOURS
EROSIO N
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RUST
S UNS HINE Y E LLOW
DETERRE – OF THE EARTH These earthenware vases are handmade using the most primitive and traditional methods known to man. They are shaped by hand and fired in wood burning brick dragon kilns in the countryside of Vietnam. They are suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
PRIMORDIA is our newest dinnerware. It’s a faded blue version of our OYSTER series and will mix and match with the original design. Use it outside, use it inside, use it whenever you want your dishes to look as organic as the food you eat.
DEFINITELY NOT MELLOW The colour of the sun, of daffodils, tulips, dandelions and pollen, yellow is the colour of spring.
L AY E RS
OF
C L AY
BAS K ETRY
V E I N S
TIBETAN
LA MB
NAT UR AL
L AY E RS C RYSTAL LI NE
LE A F
OF
FUNGUS
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STEEL
M OSS
B R A NC HE S
OAK
M O H AIR
WATER WOOL
S H AP E S
SHAG GY
A M O RP HOU S
H YAC I N T H
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WOOD
Our leather seating invites a leisurely afternoon nap, a time to read or hangout with friends. Although most of us aspire to create smart and stylish homes, we want to be cosy and relaxed, too.
SYM Our new SYM bookshelves are a study in symmetry and symbiosis. They have been designed by Peter Cardew Architects with a clever method for self-assembly - without screws or nails. The solid European oak shelves slot into the stainless steel rails in a logical, inventive way. These shelves are available in 6 configurations, so whether you have a small or large collection of favourite things, there is a shelving unit that will work for you.
INNER PEACE Sky blue and cloud white create a place of peaceful, natural living - an antidote to the speed of modern life.
DANCE WITH ME This sculptural DANCE vase becomes a focus in a minimalist interior. Its playful form is a contrast to the linear surfaces of our SHI marble console tables and new CUBE bar stools. Add tall branches or long grasses for additional drama. Also in black.
TRULY UNRULY We introduce a new collection of natural long curly Tibetan Lambskin, sheepskin and rabbit fur pillows, throws and rugs. Layer them with textiles and woolen carpets for a soft and cosy mood. You’ll never want to leave home.
AMORPHA Soft, undulating shapes reminiscent of amoeba and cell structures grace this collection of ceramic vases. They are matte on the outside with a surprise of shiny coloured glaze inside. Available in 3 sensuous shapes and 4 colours.
STRATUM Requiring a steady but quick hand and a zen-like patience, highly skilled Chinese craftspeople apply the soft clay ribbons, layer upon layer, to create these beautiful vases. Available in 4 shapes and 5 colours.
KHAYA One solid block of mahogany wood is carefully carved by hand to create each of these special cubicles. The growth rings of the wood are revealed on two levels. The wood is left in it’s raw state and it will develop natural cracks and inclusions. VELLUS Our new 100% wool carpets are hand-woven in India. They’re so soft, your cosy feet will thank you.
STITC HE D
HOU N D STOOTH
BLACK
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WH ITE
A LL
DR ESSED
UP
I N TE N S E
S O FT
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S C RAP E D OP TIMISTIC
P E B B LE D
M ETALLIC
D E E P
SH INY
GORGEOUS GEODES We have aquired a very rare collection of extra large calcite geodes from Morocco. They are entire geodes, split in half to reveal the sparkling crystals inside.
NEW CHI ENERGY comes into our collection with the introduction of a CHI swivel stool and a smaller version of our CHI armchair. Add our newest [DE]COMPOSITION paintings for a large dose of decorating drama.
SMALL + ADORABLE Our newest CHI chair is a reduced version of our original design. It’s a narrower boxy shape, designed to fit into rooms where space is limited. It’s available in our new classic suiting fabrics: houndstooth, stitched and pebbled and in 6 aniline leathers. Mix and match your chair selection, then swap cushions for a little design playfulness.
GOOD BLACK MAGIC Our ASPERO flower pots and OSCURO cookware are made using a craft that goes back countless generations. They are produced in La Chamba, a village in Colombia, South America, that is famous for its river clay and special firing method. They’re amazing cooking vessels, beautiful for serving meals and fashionable vessels for holding plants.
COLOMBIAN CRAFT As the slow-cooking movement becomes more entrenched in our psyche, we’ve rediscovered the traditional clay cooking pots of Colombia. We sell a variety of cooking pots with lids, pans, and bowls. They are made in a rural village, surrounded by rice fields and mango plantations, on the bank of the river where the unique grey clay is found. At the workshop the raw clay is sun-dried, pulverized, sifted, then mixed with water for a smooth consistency. Highly skilled women handcoil and press the clay into shape, trim the edges, then texturize the surfaces. The smooth surfaces have a coating of slippery red clay which is vigorously hand-polished using semi-precious agate stones. When fully dried, the pieces are loaded into metal drums and fired. After several hours, they are removed from the fire, straw material is shoveled on top, lids are placed on the drums and a heavy smoke penetrates the clay, giving the pots a natural black surface. No paints, dyes or chemicals are used in the production of these items. For full information about all our shapes and how to cook with these pots, please see the OSCURO brochure on our website. You’ll be surprised with their seamless use from cooktop to oven to tabletop. www.eighteenkarat.com
LICHEN CIRCLES Ancient fossils of the plant world, lichens are very long-lived, growing in some of the harshest environments on Earth yet they are so sensitive that scientists study them to determine environmental degradation from pollution and ozone depletion. We bring them to you in a new series of art photography by Philippe Martin-Morice.
100% NATURAL This contemporary room is decorated entirely in organic materials - leather, wool, marble, stainless steel, lambskin, selenite, clay, glass and paper. The calming energy of water outside and selenite stones inside make this the perfect place for relaxation and contemplation.
SUNLIGHT CAPTURED IN GLASS One little glass vase adds a dose of brilliant yellow optimism. Like a tiny pill, don’t underestimate it’s potent healing power. Take one and smile!
A NC IE NT
LIC HE NS
BA RK
CRYSTAL WOO L
ROOTS
AL PACA
STONE S
G EOD ES
LA MB TIB ETA N SELEN ITE
FEAT HERS
G R E Y
EAGL E
TAU P E
ENERGY
NATURAL SELENITE CRYSTALS Named after Selene, Goddess of the Moon, these naturally energized stones are said to remove negative energy from a room, purify and bring calm to the spaces in which they sit. In crystal healing therapy, they provide mental clarity and objectivity. These translucent optic salt crystals formed 140 to 200 million years ago and are evidence that the Atlas Mountains of Morocco were once an ocean floor. They are beautiful accessories in their raw or polished states. Above is the raw stone as it is found inside the mine. Our selenite stones are selected for their large size and whiteness. These are the most rare specimens and are in limited supply.
MYSTICAL MOUNTAINS Our white selenite is found in a semi-arid mountainous area of Morocco which has a very unique topography. The wide valley is covered in large sweeping grasses and rosemary bushes. There are no trees, but the luminous Moroccan blue sky steals all the attention as it outlines the red mountain ridges. Clay-walled farming villages dot the surreal landscape. Selenite occurs in narrow veins which can only be excavated from hand-dug caves. The most precious, pure large crystals are buried deep and the miners will go in as far as 200 feet to extract the minerals without any modern equipment – only a pick, shovel and wheelbarrow. The work is painstaking and becomes more dangerous as the depth increases. Once a vein is exhausted, the mine is refilled with the original terrain to ensure stability of the mountainside. The stones are taken to a warehouse in a local village, then trucked to a workshop for processing. Selenite is beautiful in its raw state where all the inclusions and optic striations are visible. It’s also polished into a variety of geometric shapes. The soft texture of the stone allows it to be polished to a satin-like shine. It’s rumoured that the selenite crystals are remnants of Atlantis and are the original recordkeepers of a highly evolved ancient civilization.
COLLECTING Many of us are drawn to collecting objects simply for the pleasure that they bring. Keeping a collection visible, yet orderly can be a challenge in an open-concept room. Our new SYM shelves do this beautifully.
LEAF PHOTOGRAPHY The inspiration for our newest series of paintings came from these photographs of one dried leaf. The artist, Kenneth Torrance, captured the essence of the leaf’s decomposition, both in these photos and in the subsequent large scale paintings.
TOUCH ON TONE BETWEEN SPREADS, SPEAK ABOUT COMPOST REBIRTH ENVIRONMENT SPRING GREEN SOAKING SPRIAL Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque at quam lorem, eu adipiscing nisi. Suspendisse potenti. Nam tincidunt turpis ac turpis condimentum congue. Nullam ullamcorper purus id lorem laoreet eget pretium elit feugiat. Proin non ligula vitae elit auctor vestibulum quis vitae arcu. Proin ut metus vel dolor euismod egestas vel et lacus. Sed lobortis purus turpis, ac fringilla nibh. Praesent arcu nisi, tristique sed sagittis non, pharetra in diam. Vestibulum eu orci libero, vel consectetur lacus. Aliquam arcu leo, dignissim sit amet elementum quis, vestibulum et ipsum.
[ DE ] COMPOSITION – AN AERIAL PERSPECTIVE As a leaf decomposes, the structure of veins underneath the soft tissues is the last remaining evidence of life. When viewed in micro detail, this decomposing leaf looks like a macro view of a landscape, of a network of roads, rivers and valleys. To recreate the decomposition of the leaf, the artist, Kenneth Torrance, put thick paint on the canvas, then removed it, decomposing his original composition. What remains is the sculptural beauty of shapes and melted colours.
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18KARAT 5292–272ND STREET, LANGLEY BC, CANADA V4W 1S3 TOLL FREE 1.888.849.8811TEL 604.856.8818 FAX 604.856.8305 PRINTED IN CANADA © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WWW.EIGHTEENKARAT.COM
COLLECTION21 SPRING/SUMMER 2011
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