The Producers
Alessando Di Sarno
Italian born and Sydney based maker, Alessandro di Sarno, always had an interest in art and design however his creative journey into ceramics began when he started using handmade pottery in restaurant kitchens whilst following a culinary dream.
“I love creating things with my hands, so for me working with clay, a primitive material so directly connects to earth and the natural environment, is compelling. The versatility of the medium is what allows me to experiment with new forms, shapes and textures, each piece a direct reflection of my encounter with it. Ceramic objects can look extremely static, and so in my work I attempt to bring attention to the movement and motion that exists within ceramic forms. Every physical mark and imperfection acts as a record of my interaction with the clay, making each piece unique in their own way. The aesthetic of simple and natural forms has stemmed from my interest in traditional Japanese pottery, where these imperfections are embraced as a form of beauty”.
Alessandro works with different types of stoneware and porcelain. All his pieces are hand thrown on a potter’s wheel or press moulded.
Grit Ceramics
One woman studio in Northern NSW in Pottsville. Produce wheel thrown tableware for some of Australia’s best kitchens. Pieces are thrown using high-quality Japanese clays (such as Nanban, Shigaraki, and porcelaneous clays) mixed with occasional wild-dug clay from the studio's backyard. Founder Leia Sherblom transitioned into pottery as a form of healing following a career-ending brain injury during her time as a competitive snowboarder. This background inspires the bold, rough-yet-refined aesthetic of her work.
Feldmark Pottery
A boutique working studio, gallery, and ceramics school located in the Snowy Mountains just 10 minutes outside of Jindabyne, NSW. Owned by ceramicist Andrei Davidoff, the studio creates handmade, Australian-clay ceramics inspired by the local Monaro landscape
A donabe (literally "clay pot") is a traditional Japanese earthenware vessel designed for stovetop and direct-flame cooking. Made from porous, heat-retaining clay, it is a staple for communal dining and acts as an all-in-one pot for hot pots, soups, stews, steaming, and even baking rice.
Nagatanien Donabe
Artisan Japanese cookware from Nagatani-en, Japan's oldest manufacturer of donabes.
Nagatanien, established in 1832, is a premier Japanese manufacturer of authentic donabe (traditional clay pots) hailing from the Iga region in Mie Prefecture. Crafted from ancient, highly porous clay, these pots are celebrated for their exceptional heat retention and gentle, far-infrared cooking process
The Material: The Iga clay comes from the bed of an ancient lake. It contains fossilized microorganisms that burn away during the firing process, leaving microscopic air pockets that insulate the pot.
Kamado-san: Their renowned double-lid donabe is specially engineered for cooking rice. The inner lid acts as a pressure cooker and prevents boilovers, yielding incredibly fluffy, perfectly steamed rice with a toasted bottom.
Versatility: Nagatanien creates various styles, including the Ibushigin for indoor smoking, the Ameyu for everyday stews, and the Musui for moisture-retaining dry roasting.
Far-Infrared Cooking: The clay absorbs heat slowly and releases it evenly, gently tenderizing ingredients and enhancing the umami flavor of your food
CUTIPOL
Luxury cutlery crafted in Portugal. Cutipol is a world-class reference brand renowned for its quality and design.
Cutipol is based on a dream transmitted by several family generations tailored in the spirit of continuousimprovement, innovation, and knowledge assimilated over time.
With the same purpose of pure and functional shapes that characterize its pieces, Cutipol offers a wide and curated selection of objects for your home.
ADAMAS FORGE
Joel Davey is the custom bladesmith and knife maker behind Adamas Forge
Based out of the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region in New South Wales, Australia, he specialises in high-end, hand-forged kitchen cutlery, artisan art knives, and custom blacksmithing
“I fell in love with the mystery and prestige around the ancient craft of blacksmithing through an interest in ancient history, cultures and metalworking. I try to portray my passion and artistic expression in my pieces so you too can feel the connection to this craft and the maker. If you have never experienced a razor sharp handcrafted knife then you've come to the right place. In Japan they say a sharp knife increases the flavour of food.
The art of forging steel is amazing in itself as it stems back thousands of years. Seeing the colours as the steel heats and the incredible amount of shapes and patterns that can be created has become an obsession for me. Combine that with the whole process afterwards of creating something beautiful and sentimental. It is this process that I wish to share with you because its also important to preserve this ancient craft. As someone who is passionate about the art, know that every single piece will be created with the utmost dedication and love”
MARUNAO
The birthplace of Marunao
Tsubame-Sanjo, land of rich, fertile earth and home to precision metalworking.
Our homeland is one where man and nature live and work in harmony. Marunao started life at the very heart of the city.
We believe that the trauma of repeated flooding has helped to forge the indomitable spirit of our master craftsmen,a spirit which is in the very DNA of the products we create.
In 2014, we opened our headquarters in the Yada district of Sanjo city as a combined factory and retail shop. Overlooking Mount Yahiko, the hills of the Echigo Plain roll out before the eyes, enabling one to experience first-hand the passing of the four seasons.
Nestled deep within the forest, the factory lends a sense of permanence to the art of making. It is for this reason we chose this particular site.
The philosophy of making materials
These trees have lived in the Tropics for several hundreds of years. Preserving the individual characteristics of that wood, maintaining as many of its charms as possible, we seek to incorporate it into our daily lives. Here at Marunao we scoured the world for the best material to make spoons and chopsticks, finally settling on ebony, a hardwood with a high degree of specific gravity. During the selection process we take great care to find out which island and which region the wood came from. The same species of tree will yield different wood depending on the conditions of the soil and the climate.
within the central duct the wood is left to dry naturally over time. This is the period at which it transforms from simply ‘wood’ to ‘material’. It is then repeatedly sanded and smoothed to remove any snags or warps. In this way we avoid wasting a single piece of the precious material.
To complement the wood we also use artificial marble, impregnated wood, 18 carat gold and sterling silver. The different materials are combined with the wood in such a way as to give the impression that they have always co-existed as a single entity.
At Marunao we live and breathe the philosophy of making materials.
Japanese people eat French cuisine, Chinese diners eat Japanese. We have created a range of new utensils that meets the needs of the modern age. We hope that diners all over the world using chopsticks and spoons will be able to fully appreciate the taste of their food regardless of where they are based and what regional cuisine they are eating.
What’s more it is our hope that our customers, using our chopsticks, will sense a deep connection with Marunao the moment the food touches their lips.
DINOSAUR DESIGNS
EST. 1985
Dinosaur Designs is an Australian design studio, globally renowned for their handmade resin and metal, homewares and jewellery. Established in 1985, Dinosaur Designs celebrates 40 years of the studio. Louise Olsen & Stephen Ormandy co-founders, directors & designers
LOUISE OLSEN on DINOSAUR DESIGNS
"When we started working with resin in the 1980s, there was really no one else working with it in the way we wanted to. We had to invent our own manufacturing techniques because resin really does have a mind of its own. It’s very painterly."
ALESANDRO LJUBICIC
Sydney-based artist Alesandro Ljubicic is known for his large-scale floral still-life paintings — thick with colour, astonishingly vibrant and built up in his signature drag-and-scoop slabs of oil paint. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ljubicic studied at the National Art School, Australia's leading art college, graduating in 2007, and has since exhibited across Australia and internationally, including in Montreal, Berlin and Melbourne. His practice is defined by a commitment to multi-sensory, immersive experience — work that, in his own words, "provokes all the senses and moves beyond the canvas." It is a philosophy that makes him a natural fit for a residency where art, nature and cuisine are inseparable.
NEWCASTLE GREENS
Newcastle Greens have been growing and supplying to restaurants, cafes and private chefs since 2012. They search for rare varietals from all over the world that provide interesting textures, flavours and visual appeal.
All their produce is grown in soil, they do not use hydroponics or NFT systems. The farm comprises of hot houses and mixed permanent raised beds with seasonal cropping and perineal plants.
They collaborate with chefs, growing leaves, flowers and vegetables to their specifications. Working close with chefs gives connection and an overall understanding of how to handle the produce they grow from seed to plate