RICHARD‘S ARABIAN NIGHTS
by Matteo Pennacchio
The focus of the course was about fine dining restaurants and making well thought and fitting table ware sets for them. After having visited several fine dining restaurants, a Michelin star restaurant called "Richard" in Berlin was the one that rouse most exciting ideas.
The background research included for example a study of Islamic architecture, focusing on the minarets, mausoleums and multifold surfaces. The restaurant already had a collection of erotic art pieces and paintings, so it was only natural to look into this aspect too, and the fusion of all these elements became the core of the work.
Richard's owner, mr. Hans Richard, wished to add tajine plate, oven-safe bread&butter serving plate and a set of bowls with lid to the existing tableware. Additionally, to make a set on its own, two different height glasses were also designed. The techniques used included for example plaster modelling, making plaster moulds for glass casting, casting crystal glass and hand throwing red clay.
Process was mostly smooth and rational, with few trials and errors before success with producing final glass prototypes. In the end, a collection of various shapes and designs according to the needs of Richard restaurant were realised in terracotta and cast crystal, and shown in the annual exhibition in July 2022 at Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule, in Halle, where they received good feedback, showing that the concept of evoking distant cities, tales and dreams was well welcomed.
