Iron Furniture Design · 2022
Fan Table
- A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Objective Gallery
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 9,901
- Verification code BE3156B495 · Verify this award
About Fan Table
Fan is a coffee table inspired by the Chinese folding fan. The tabletops are made of marble and artistic bark, combined with a central bronze piece shaped as a half-moon. The curved metal surface recalls an open fan, an object linked in Chinese culture with kindness and with moving freely. A semicircular space at the center can hold flowers or small ornaments. The marble was sanded repeatedly to fit the curved metal precisely. The table measures 1120 mm in width, 1120 mm in depth and 700 mm in height.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Boldly remixed with stone and wood tabletops, the central piece of metal is curated in the shape of a half-moon that resembles the Chinese fan. The fusion of multiple materials creates a mood of mystery and playfulness.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 1120 mm x Depth 1120 mm x Height 700 mm
- Tags
- Collective Design, Homeware Design, Furniture Design, Chinese Fan
- Production Technology
- Bronze, Marble, Artistic Bark
- Design Challenge
- The structure of the fan table is a triangle, formed by a combination of wood and metal to support the table-top weight. The part where the metal and marble are spliced presented a structural challenge. To achieve a perfect fit, the marble was sanded repeatedly to match and fit in the curved metal surface.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2020 and finished in June 2020 in Guangzhou, and was exhibited in Shanghai in July 2020. This exhibition “COEXIST” lasted for 3 months.
- Operation Flow
- The special semicircle in the center of the coffee table can freely place flowers and small ornaments.
- Research
- To have a deeper understanding of Chinese folding fans, designer Bryce Cai made a special visit to the Fan Museum in Hangzhou. By studying the museum collections on tour with educators, he absorbed information about the folding fans’ basic structure, its 3000-year history, and its long-lasting influence on traditional Chinese culture. In ancient China, words in homophony and fortune were often associated. "Shan", simultaneously represented goodness and the object itself. Fans were often gifted to friends as tokens of appreciation and mascots. Although with time, the folding fan has gradually faded from the daily lives of people, Bryce Cai has found a poetic way to present the fan in another form in our homes, both as a tribute to traditional culture and a reminder of kindness.
- Inspiration
- Fan Table is inspired by Chinese fans. In ancient times, it was often given as a gift to friends because of its homophony with Shan（which stands for kindness in Chinese). It also has the meaning of advancing and retreating freely and at ease.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Guan Li
Image #2: Photographer Guan Li
Image #3: Photographer Guan Li
Image #4: Photographer Guan Li
Image #5: Photographer Guan Li