Breathtaking Furniture Made of Rock Salt, Coffee, Salt and Sand
As any designer knows, materials can make or break a project. Designers Fernando Mastrangelo and Samuel Amoia made materials the centerpiece of their unique collection. Silica, coffee, rock salt, pink salt and sand joined with cement to become a line of sculptural furniture and home accessories under the name AM|MA Studio NYC.
Furniture and sculpture are often intertwined, sharing form and function. Introducing new shapes or new materials can alter the impression of the entire object, making a sculptural table into a true work of art. One brilliant example is this coffee table made of actual coffee – not a gimmick, just a beautiful piece of sustainably made furniture.
The first piece of the series was a bar made of rock salt and topped with a slab of blue cement. The sculptural bar looks like a natural formation that has been plucked from a cave and transplanted to a stylish home. From there came the rest: mirrors, lamps and more.
The pair continued to use unusual materials in a number of other projects which they say engage the viewer “both visually and conceptually.” The visual impact of the objects is certainly striking, highlighting the cooperation between natural and man-made materials.
The AM|MA products have put unconventional materials into a new context, incorporating mundane items such as coffee grounds as sculptural elements in breathtaking objects. Check out both designers’ individual websites to see their amazing (and very in tune) creations.
About Samuel Amoia
“Samuel Amoia’s passion for interior design originated with his extensive international travel, which has allowed him to see and experience first-hand some of world’s most prestigious living environments. Amoia has worked for such industry leaders as Ian Schrager and Hotels AB (Andre Balazs). Most recently, Amoia worked closely with interior designer Stephen Sills, hailed as one of the most influential forces in the field today. Working alongside Sills in his rarefied world afforded Amoia unparalleled creative and business training. Amoia aided Sills in the execution of some of the most important large-scale residential projects in recent years. Amoia has been featured in Architectural Digest, Vogue, New York Times, Forbes, Wallpaper, Elle Décor, World of Interiors, T Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Cultured Magazine, Financial Times, Interview Magazine, The Robb Report, and NY Magazine.”
About Fernando Mastrangelo
“Fernando Mastrangelo is a New York based artist best known for his Collectible Design, as well as his large scale sculptures and experiential installations. All of Mastrangelo’s works are sculpted by hand from natural or repurposed materials such as sand, salt, silica, and crushed or powdered glass. His passionate concern with ecological issues continues to influence his growing language. Mastrangelo currently has works in numerous private collections worldwide, as well as works residing in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. His works have been exhibited in both national and international exhibitions, including but not limited to, Art Basel, Collective Design Fair, Sight Unseen Offsite, Salone del Mobile in Milan, Art Genève, Mendes Wood Gallery, Mike Weiss Gallery, the Neuberger Museum, and Rossana Orlandi’s Gallery in Milan.”