Molten Metal and Raw Wood Form Surprisingly Beautiful Furniture
It seems that creative designers are always finding new ways to join materials in beautiful combinations. Designer Hilla Shamia combines natural wood pieces with cast aluminum to make slick yet rustic furniture pieces. The materials combine in an unexpectedly lovely manner. Shamia pours molten metal directly onto and into the wood, filling the natural cracks and conforming to the uneven shape of the wood.
Where the molten metal hits the wood, small scorches appear on the surface. This interplay between the two materials emphasizes the inherent loveliness of both.
The legs and bases of each piece are cast in place, naturally joining the wood and metal and creating smooth gradient tones where the two meet.
These works of art are incredibly sought-after, and they come with price tags to match that demand. You can find these beautiful “wood casting” furniture pieces at 1stDibs, Pamono and other fine furniture retailers ranging from $500 to $9000 USD.
About Artist Hilla Shamia
“Hilla Shamia was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1983. She studied industrial design at Holon Institute of Technology (Israel) from 2007 to 2011, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree. The following year, she established her eponymous design studio in Tel Aviv, focusing on product design with an emphasis on material research. She draws inspiration from nature, the progression of time, and material exploration.”
“As of this writing, Shamia is arguably best known for her Wood CastingTM furniture. First launched in 2012 while Shamia was still a student, the series centers round a unique technology of casting metal in wood. Using mostly locally sourced, whole tree trunks, Shamia cuts the wood lengthwise and inserts it into a mold, which defines the furniture’s overall form. She then pours liquid metal over the wood. The resulting, unique pieces are defined by the two contrasting, but balanced, materials.”