1508 London
A contemporary perspective on Renaissance art; the contrast between raw and refined.
Introducing the Contour collection
With the shared principle of striving for perfection through design, we collaborated with 1508 to develop a lever handle that embodies a contemporary perspective on the art of the renaissance period; a classic reinvention that creates the contrast between raw and refined.
Taking inspiration from Michelangelo’s works, the handle itself resembles the tool used to create intricate contours on stone and marble. The resulting form is carried across all the pieces in this collection, making for a truly simple and ergonomic design across the cabinet pulls and T-bar.
1508 LONDON x JOSEPH GILES
The design journey
Where it all began
We began working with Leo and Jason at 1508 back in April 2022, with the original idea coming from Michelangelo and his works. With the concept of ‘reaching out to the masters’ in mind, we explored the techniques and storytelling of master artisans, pulling out form, proportion and materiality as the artistic elements of focus. Looking at the materials and tools this famous artist worked with, we explored paintbrushes, chisels, hammers and other sculpting tools, things that would always have to be comfortable in the hand of the artist, always with the question of ‘how could this translate into a handle?’.
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Building out the concepts
There were a few design concepts at this point, a chisel or contouring tool idea, a paintbrush and the more abstract idea of using an artist's palette, focusing on how the artist interacts with it. Unable to make the paintbrush design elegant enough in handle form, it was the contouring tool that grew into a more comprehensive concept, with more promising designs flowing out of that. All these designs were 3D printed and we sat down and went through every concept, based around the chiseling tool, and discussed what we could change, what had to stay, and how we could stay close to the tools original shape but reducing sharp edges and ensuring good tactility.
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A marble insert
This was when we began to explore the idea of a marble insert (similar to the timber insert we designed for the Halsey, pictured), being Michelangelo's craft, but throughout we were conscious of creating something that was accessible to all properties, designing something that could be specified within most budgets. With this in mind, we put the marble idea to one side, and decided that if not possible for the main design, it should be an option for bespoke customisation.
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Making it your own
There are three layers to the final design: the simplest form is one piece of solid brass; the second has the brass inlay to allow you to work with a split finish; and the third enables you to take the insert and use any material, such as marble or timber, for a fully customisable piece.
A stunning range that can fit within many different design aesthetics, we love how the simple but beautiful form of the collection gives you huge design freedom.
We hope you love and feel inspired by this collection as much as we do.
The year of 1508
The year Michelangelo began his famous piece at the Sistine Chapel, is, with the addition of a decimal, also the length of this lever - 150.8mm. The legacy continues, as inscribed on the underside of each lever handle is MDVIII.
Introducing cabinet hardware
The lever design drove the concept and allowed us to grow the collection from there. We moved into the cabinet hardware, exploring pulls in different sizes and inlay options.
Including T-bars in the collection was a must as they’re a popular product and their form really accentuates the design, particularly when you have the inlays.
“I’m probably most proud of the subtle details – the 150.8 length, the Roman engraving, the simplicity of the smallest pull, how the simplest shape with the slightest indentation can become such a beautiful object.”
Peter Green, Designer at Joseph Giles
Reflecting on the design
The main objective with the Contour collection was to create a handle that is accessible to a broader range of projects, both in terms of budget and aesthetic.
We’ve done this without compromising on the design, creating a handle that truly is exquisitely elegant.
One element of this design journey that has felt like an accomplishment is the softness of the final product. A lot of our handles are about symmetry and straight lines, whereas this is about curves and soft form.
Getting that soft feel in-hand with a CNC-machined piece was one of the biggest challenges, particularly when you have two brass parts meeting – the inlay and the scoop of the main piece – that need to sit together with no harsh lines.
THE COLLECTION
The Contour Collection
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