‘Cor Blimey’ Friday is an occasional end of the week look at watches that are cool, unusual, and just strikingly ‘cor blimey’. Few watches evince this old cockney exclamation more effectively than the watch before us today, a piece by hip Japanese designer Hiranao Tsuboi.
While most of us are happy to settle for a reliable three hander – hour hand, minute hand and second hand, Japanese designer Hiranao Tsuboi has created a watch that works via a system of pulleys and a powerful chain fusee between the hour wheels at the top and the minute wheels at the bottom. The handle is turned to wind the movement so as to keep the wheels turning. Does it work? I haven’t a clue, but a party talking point it certainly is.
Hiranao Tsuboi designs
Hiranao doesn’t approach anything with a jaded eye. During his teenage years, he discovered his love for painting and decided to attend Tama Art University, where his interests gradually developed to creating objects.“I was naturally conscious to be a designer.” Since 2006 he has established Hiranao Tsuboi Design, and works as a part-time teacher in the University from which he graduated. He also spent some time as a Buddhist monk, rising at 4am and going to bed at midnight in order to develop his mental and physical strength.
Umbrella stand
Lamp/Lamp
Omega chair
Some of his unusual design ideas, which are derived from hours of thinking and conceptualisation, include his take on the everyday umbrella, which of course usually has to rest against something. His design features a built-in stand and it’s become a world wide hit.
His double socketed light bulb – called Lamp/Lamp, is exactly what it says on the er…bulb.
Hiranao has also designed for Omega – but not the watch brand. His Omega for Artflex chairs exude a serene minimalism. It’s a precisely crafted chair with a gossamer robe-like belt that seamlessly extends through the backrest, armrests and legs, giving it an elegant stance. The chair uses traditional Japanese techniques by carefully sculpting each section by hand.
Long live those who see the world in an entirely different way. Hiranao Tsuboi is a modern hero of the everyday object.
