antonio aricò crafts rustic kitchenware using traditional materials + techniques

antonio aricò crafts rustic kitchenware using traditional materials + techniques
photo © f. zaminga

looking at tradition and how things were made in the past, antonio aricò has crafted a small collection of wooden kitchenware, offering up contemporary ‘oldways’ of preparing food. the designs which include a cheese grater, chopping blocks, a rolling pin and utensils, draw on the italian creative’s cultural heritage; in which he was influenced by the simple, casual objects that would hang on the walls of his grandfather’s kitchen.

the rustic, wooden pieces are a collaboration between aricò and his grandfather, who handcrafted the objects based on the designer’s drawings — thus, further deepening the family connection. collectively they encompass a mediterranean aesthetic that draws on the purity of materials, and their inherent imperfections.

aricò’s ‘oldways’ collection made its debut at the 2015 designboom mart in stockholm.

‘cheese grater’ is made from a tomato soup can with holes drilled into it
photo © f. zaminga

the ‘cheese grater’ is not about being glamorous or fashionable, it is about honesty, purity and simplicity — in form and in function. the design draws from an old method typical in the south of italy in which one would drill holes into a tomato soup can with a nail.

the design draws on an old method that comes from the south of italy
photo © f. zaminga

‘kitchen utensils’
photo © f. zaminga

aricò’s wooden kitchen utensils take their shape from his drawings, which have been cut out using fast, simple techniques by his grandfather. each one is slightly different from the other, and have a graphic two-dimensional, but artisanal look.

the utensils are quickly cut out using fast, simple techniques, making each one slightly different
photo © f. zaminga

the utensils have a graphic, two-dimensional
photo © f. zaminga

‘chopping blocks’
photo © f. zaminga

roughly and instinctively cut-out of beech wood, ‘chopping blocks’ draw their sizes from the ancient boards of lumber that were used for heavy cutting. in making them, aricò wanted to create something that would last for years to come, while at the same time showcasing the various cuts made from slicing food on it, making it even more expressive.

the different sizes are derived from ancient blocks of wood used as heavy chopping boards
photo © f. zaminga

the different shapes can be catered to different foods
photo © f. zaminga

‘rolling pins’
photo © f. zaminga

‘rolling pin’ is simply a big, straight cylinder. the wood has been left rough in order to give texture to the dough.
‘rolling pin’ is a large, straight, wooden cylinder
photo © f. zaminga