One of the highlights of our recent trip to LA was a visit to the Commune-designed Heath Ceramics store to check out the summer Playmountain shop, open until September 5th. Heath’s Studio Director Adam Silverman (of Atwater Pottery) collaborated with Playmountain founder Shinichiro Nakahara to bring the shop to LA (Silverman also shows his work in the Tokyo Playmountain store).
One of Japan’s most respected designers, Nakahara is a native of Kagoshima, on the southern island of Kyushu, an area with a long tradition of woodworking; it’s also where Nakahara continues to produce furniture for his Landscape Products line. In addition to home accessories from Playmountain, the summer shop at Heath is showing original, handmade children’s toys from Nakahara’s children’s line, Chigo; clothing by Playmountain’s neighbor, Loopwheeler; and products by TEMBEA, a manufacturer known for its high-quality fabric bags.
N.B. Products available by phone order only; go to Heath for information.
Above: Ceramics by Hyejeong Kim.
Above: Maple plates coated with colored lacquer from Nakahara’s children’s line, Chigo: $30 to $50, depending on size.
Above: Hand-forged Brass Spoons by Kubo Lue; $40 to $60, depending on size. Hand-turned Wooden Tops, $10 each.
Above: Reform Candlestick Holders made from quince wood: $77 to $105, depending on size.
Above: Wooden Kami Cups by Hidetoshi Takahashi; $44 to $62, depending on size.
Above: Brass openers by Masanori Oji. The Crescent Moon Shape is $35, the Solar Eclipse is $35, and the Frame Shape is $45.
Above: Adam Silverman’s Pendant Lights on display throughout the store. His ceramics are notable for their unique glazes and scarred, textured surfaces.
Above: A table by Commune Design, who also created the store’s interior.
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