The Newlyn Kettle

The craft

Historically, the United Kingdom has a plethora of crafts that are gradually losing their significance. In todays scenario, we are at risk of exhausting most of our natural resources due to the incessant demand. Craft has the power to regulate that pace and encourage us to enjoy a more mindful way of life. My project focusses on going beyond the realms of the aesthetics and adopting the original utilitarian aspect of the craft. I wish to reassess the viability of craft as a feasible method of production for the future as it will give many diverse voices in craft from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds a platform, truly democratising the making process.

Working with nature

Building on my relationship with nature, I complimented the craft with the landscape of Newlyn. By working with the sea, I intend to acknowledge the role of nature in the making process and allow it to leave an impression on the copper. The beauty of nature lies in its unpredictability and spontaneity. The salts in the sea react with the copper to create a vibrant, iridescent patina on its surface. The environment leaves a trace on the object, evoking a sense of the place where it was made.

A new design framework

The Newlyn kettle is the first artefact born through these collaborations. An archetypical, mundane object designed to be mass manufactured is now an authentic testament to the craft and nature of Newlyn. It is a conscious shift from conventional manufacturing to craft-based production, intended to question how we value and perceive the products we use everyday. The triangle of design, craft and nature is a dynamic one. Using this framework, my project articulates our need to imagine a future where we can embrace a hyper-local mindset of making products that celebrates traditional craft and the nature where it belongs.