Natsuko Toyofuku, Japanese designer based in Milan, is allied with Hands on Design, a brand born from an idea of Kaori Shiina and Riccardo Nardi. The idea is to connect and raise awareness of the handicraft industry and individual laboratories, in Italy and in the resto of the world. It’s a network of designers, artisans and artists who produce unique pieces out series, artifacts of high technical and aesthetic quality. And in this connection Natsuko studied two ad hoc collections. In the typical style of the Japanese artisan-artist, the first collection is a small line of rings and pendants very linear and simple, homemade flavor. Both in the first phase, that of lost wax casting, and in the second with the intervention of the goldsmith, the skills and the know-how is derived from the so-called excellence. As that of Raffaele Calzolari, goldsmith with which Natsuko worked for years. The second meeting was instead with the Moretti’s of Ercole Moretti firm, Murano island historic company specialized in the manufacture of murrine (glass objects obtained by welding with heat different monochrome or colored glass canes lengthwise, or by melting sections of millefiori canes). The operation that Natsuko has made in this second collection has been to treat the murrine as gems created by man to give them relief in a current key. “When I have been explained and shown the many steps of craftsmanship I could not help but note that these murrine deserve to be highlighted,” is the comment of Natsuko. G.N.
From 9 to 15 July 2015, the jewels of Natsuko Toyofuku for Hands on Design, will be seen and purchased at the new event Hands on Design for Expoincittà, in conjunction with the Japan Day on 11 July, at the show room of Slow Wood, Foro Bonaparte 44 / A, 20121 Milano.
