Swahili African Modern
Reflecting the grace and beauty of the animals that inspired them, these hand carved wooden jars are absolutely stunning! Protruding upwards from the round belly storage area, the long slender handle of the lid is unmistakable as that of the horns of the Eland, Gemsbok, Sable and other large antelope of the Genus Oryx species, hence the name given 'Oryx Horn Mpingo Jars'. The beauty of the jars lies in their simplicity; each handcrafted by artisans in Mozambique who work with sustainably sourced Mpingo wood, a dark hardwood also known as; African Blackwood, Mozambican Ebony and Zebrawood depending on the region. Mpingo grows along Mozambique's coastal forests and in an area known as the Miombo Woodlands, which is where many of the artisans reside. Mpingo is said to be the preference of woodwind players who use the wood for their instruments due to the tonal quality achieved. Artisans from Mozambique’s Nampula Province carve the ‘Lidded Wooden Spice Jars’ using the Mpingo wood and contrasting it with Pau Ferro, a lighter grained hardwood that bears similarities to Rosewood.

The designs were commissioned by Swahili African Modern, a fair trade focussed company based in Oregon, USA that partners with select artisans across the African continent to produce beautifully crafted contemporary designed home décor, fashion and lifestyle accessories. The company was founded in 1994 by Leslie Mittelberg an American, who whilst living in Nairobi Kenya was inspired by the creativity she came across on a daily basis from the city’s vibrant markets and skilled craftsmen and women. Upon her return to the USA Leslie sought a way to bring some of the crafts to a wider audience and through Swahili AFrican Modern provides a wholesale service that sees the commissioned products stocked in over 1000 retail stores, museums, educational institutions and catalogues around the globe. Swahili African Modern also retails a select range direct to the public through an online store and a retail store in Oregon. 

...sleek and very elegant

Gonçalo Mabunda
I mentioned a little while back about the increasing trend for furniture as art amongst collectors and Gonçalo Mabunda’s often startling, furniture sculptures fit into that category. When I first saw the images of his ‘Chair’ series which has been a recurring theme of his for a while now, I was quite taken with how striking the forms where and equally intrigued with some of the titles such as ‘The Elegance Throne’, ‘Harmony Armchair’, Dream of the Children Armchair’ and ‘The Woman Throne’; titles which appear to contradict the hard scrap metal used. Gonçalo’s work is hauntingly powerful and I didn’t realise quite how much until I examined the images closer and then realised what I thought were mere scraps of metal were actually guns and other forms of weaponry. I was taken aback and thought the material quite controversial and was initially turned off. But then I could not dismiss his work outright without understanding why and having done so, now view his work in a different light.

Fashioning guns, munitions, other weapons and scrap metal into chairs and other forms of sculpture, Gonçalo Mabunda’s work serves to recreate the horror’s of war but also aims to move past it by re-purposing the deactivated weapons. Weapons that were once stockpiled and hidden during the civil war that marked Mozambique, the country of his birth, and turning them into something more positive. With every intention of making political statements, the idea of the ‘Chair’ is based on the well known images of the African Tribe Chair, and was inspired by the “Throne of Weapons” initiative; an initiative that encouraged citizens to hand in weaponry in exchange for productive tools such as sewing machines or bicycles. Gonçalo’s sculpture also looks at how difficult it is to dismantle the artifacts of war and violence, as unfortunately not all weapons have been handed in and therefore still pose a threat to people's safety.

Despite using materials I wouldn’t personally feel comfortable displaying in my home or garden, I get the sentiment behind them and can see them working in a stylish living or office space - although I’m not sure if you could sit in one for very long, but they would make a strong statement. And with the issue of guns never far from global political agendas as seen with the recent tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, USA; maybe these sculptures can force people to stop and think just that bit more.

Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa 
This place has been a daydream for a while, albeit an intermittent one – but we are talking over a good number of years, so it’s only right it should be honoured as the first posting.

I first came to know Indigo Bay when the design studio I was working with at time acquired them as a client. Located on Bazaruto Island the largest of an archipelago idyll just of the Mozambique coast that nestles amid the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa is described as the archetypical tropical island paradise surrounded by palm trees and white sandy beaches. However, the beauty of Indigo Bay is that it defines the term understated luxury hideaway… here you will not find hoards of tourists instead serene beaches with some of the finest diving and fishing in the world or if you are more like me get pampered to your hearts content in the most luxurious of spas brought to you courtesy of the Sanctuary Group. The guest areas and accommodation utilises natural materials like reed, soft-fringed thatch and wood in order to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings and comprises 30 Beach chalets and 14 luxury villas. 

Tempted? 

Additional Details:
Rates currently shown on the website range from USD$465- USD$2500
For more information visit: www.indigobayresort.com


An ultimate daydream for me, although I realise stiff competition is in the offering as we proceed.