Audrey was born by chance, though not without intention.
In 2019, in the studio, my attention was drawn to a sample leg from one of our chairs, left on the worktable by someone. Seen horizontally, the geometry of this element, with its rotated sections between the two ends, contained the image of something else. A few sketches, a discussion with my collaborators, and the form of a very distinctive table knife began to emerge, an element that could become the starting point for an entire cutlery collection.
I had never worked on this theme before, but I quickly understood that it was a very complex matter. Constraints of every kind were involved: dimensions, thicknesses, weight, balance, functionality, ergonomics, all underpinned by the need to create an ensemble that was expressively harmonious and coherent among elements with very different shapes and functions.
We also realized that cutlery is among the very few objects that engage virtually all the senses in use: sight, of course, then touch through handling and gesture, but also through contact with lips and tongue, delicate and sensitive receptors that inevitably involve taste, for which cutlery acts as a medium, and finally hearing, stimulated by the sound generated in contact with plates and tableware.
The objective was to provide an effective response to each individual requirement without creating negative repercussions on the others. For example, the elegance suggested by the forms developed for the knife could not conflict with ease of handling and use, nor with the pleasantness of contact with hand and mouth. For this reason, each function was refined through numerous successive variants, prototyped at full scale and tested in real use conditions, until the optimal result was achieved.
Thus the fork is easy when eating spaghetti and soft in the mouth, the knife cuts naturally and effortlessly, the spoon allows broth to be sipped without drips, and so on. Each function had to work, and it does.
At the same time, Audrey conveys the sensation of holding precious objects that are never intimidating, but instead communicate pleasure and comfort.
For the Audrey collection we also developed a steak knife, a sophisticated cutting tool that perfectly interprets the expressive language of the collection while developing a strong and distinctive personality of its own.
As with the other pieces, the flat and rounded end of the handle enhances grip efficiency and ensures safe and comfortable use in every condition.
For these steak knives we designed a wooden accessory, also suitable for other collections such as Kobe, highly functional and perfect for keeping them organized in a drawer, for displaying them on a rail or directly on the worktop, and also for bringing them directly to the table.
