September 30, 2024 (Berlin, Germany) – Artisanal brand Moonarij unveils ‘Zigzag,’ a new limited collection of handcrafted glass vases and vessels that capture the vibrancy of tessellated patterns. Intertwining a kaleidoscope of colors in bold radiant hues of orange and red, sky blue, calming green, and striking purple, each vase embodies an intricate sense of joy through elegant patterns of transparency and reflection. The dynamic interaction between the zigzag motif and the material incites an illusion of movement that emanates through the space. Designed in Berlin and hand-blown at a local manufacturer in Dresden, honoring the glassblowing traditions of the region, the collection is available from September 2024 through Moonarij and Marsano in Berlin.
Moonarij’s collections imprint the art of contemporary craftsmanship onto the ancient perception and utility of vessels. An homage to the heritage and artistry of glass-making, exceptional mastery is employed through two distinct processes where two artisans intricately shape each vase into life. Pulled canes are meticulously cut and laid out into the zigzag design. Subsequently folded on a glass bulb, the cane is blown and shaped into a statement vase. By crafting small batches of handblown glass vases, each piece is one of a kind. Their finely crafted forms and patterns have a haptic presence that channel the luminosity of glass and the skill of accomplished craftsmen. Experimentation with different techniques, such as overlapping and crossovers crucial to drifts and swirls, is imperative to Moonarij’s aesthetic language. The zigzag reclaims the tactile qualities of fabric translating it into the fluid, transparent nature of glass. By adapting an idea typically associated with textiles into glass work, sharpness and fluidity seamlessly coexist.
As in the previous collections – Oona, Narij and The Buckets – the new Zigzag collection infuses the luminosity and transparency of glass with the radiance of color. The intuitively shaped objects possess a sophisticated and understated elegance in both pattern and form - each piece is signed and numbered. Founder Johanna Wichelhaus expands: “I love to play with the glass cane and experiment with different forms and shapes. My vases always appear to be in motion, as they reflect the circulation and fluidity of the glass. The pattern of the Zigzag collection seems stricter, which is in stark contrast to the movement of the material.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Zigzag Collection is currently available at moonarij.com and Marsano Berlin. Each object in the collection: 25 x 16 cm, 1.8 kg.
Note: Each vase is handcrafted individually – dimensions may vary minimally.
ABOUT MOONARIJ:
Moonarij is a Berlin-based, female-founded design brand focused on handcrafted vases. Captivated by the art of glass blowing, Johanna Wichelhaus teamed up with renowned glass artists in 2021 to develop first iterations of her sketches of striped bud vases. The designs evolved into the brand‘s first collections – the Oona, released in 2022, and the Narij, followed by the Large Bucket, Oona Baby and Zigzag collection. Voluminous in shape, iridescent in color and meticulously crafted, hand-blown and hand-sculpted Moonarij vases stand out as mesmerizing objects of beauty.
Instagram: @moonarij_objects
Image Credits:
1. Zigzag Collection by Moonarij, 2024. Photography by Mathilde Karrèr. Courtesy of Moonarij.
2. Making of Oona Vases, 2024. Courtesy of Moonarij and Franziska von Steglin.
3. Zigzag Collection by Moonarij, 2024. Photography by Mathilde Karrèr. Courtesy of Moonarij.
4. Zigzag Collection by Moonarij, 2024. Photography by Mathilde Karrèr. Courtesy of Moonarij.
5. Zigzag 5, Zigzag 4 and Zigzag 1, 2024. Photography by Nick Ash. Courtesy of Moonarij.