Wooden mug · Iohanisfeld · Ebony black

A distinctive cylindrical mug carved from a single piece of linden wood, featuring an angular handle. The deep black finish on the body is achieved through shō sugi ban, a traditional wood-burning technique that carbonises the surface to create a natural, water-repellent barrier. The contrast between the charred exterior and the untreated handle showcases the wood's dual character, while the textured surface reveals the grain beneath the darkened layer, inviting quiet moments over a steaming cup of tea.

The Craft. In Iohanisfeld, a tranquil village in the southern Romanian plains, nature serves as inspiration for transforming local wood into aesthetic and sustainable objects. Convinced that each wood has its own personality and unique characteristics—from denser to more brittle grain, from floral scent to the smell of freshly baked bread—the artisans at LUN meticulously shape the precious natural material into what they call neo-organic design. Using the ancient Japanese wood preserving technique of shō sugi ban, they burn the wood to create a beautiful charred layer on its surface, enhancing both durability and visual depth.

The Heritage. Romanian woodworking traditions run deep, rooted in the necessity of working with abundant forest resources and the desire to create objects that honour the material's natural beauty. The technique of wood burning for preservation has been practiced across cultures for centuries, with the Japanese shō sugi ban method offering particular elegance and functionality. In Romanian villages, craftspeople have long understood wood as a living material, each species carrying its own character and requiring distinct approaches to reveal its potential.

The Maker. Manuela Marchiș Blînda and Cezar Blînda united their lives and blended their visions to create LUN, a space where they explore the relationship between art and craft. Their objects are designed to spark curiosity about wood and activate the senses through aesthetic sustainability. In nature, elements flow and undulate in perfect symbiosis, and humans are part of it. The artisans at LUN brought this concept into their creations, in an attempt to create through objects a connection of humanity to nature.