Silver Furniture Design · 2026
Takumi Jewelry Cabinet
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Olho Moveis Autorais
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 19,700
- Verification code F42493E5FD · Verify this award
About Takumi Jewelry Cabinet
Takumi is a jewelry cabinet that combines Japanese craft principles with contemporary furniture construction. The cabinet has fifteen drawers with chamfered edges and a concealed sliding system that works without lateral panels, creating a floating drawer effect. The interior is lined with natural leather and fitted with removable suede dividers for flexible organization. The brass handle is cast by the lost-wax method using reclaimed offcuts. The design turns the storage of personal jewelry into a calm and attentive routine.
Isabelle De Mari's Takumi Jewelry Cabinet represents a distinguished contribution to contemporary furniture design, positioned within traditions that honor both Western modernist cabinetry and East Asian craft philosophies suggesting the synthesis implied by its evocative name. The work demonstrates remarkable material sensitivity, pairing richly figured walnut displaying dramatic grain variation with supple leather in a terracotta hue that suggests aged saddle leather or fine bookbinding traditions. The fifteen-drawer configuration establishes a meditative rhythm, each compartment serving as a discrete chamber for treasured objects while contributing to the unified visual composition. Technical accomplishment manifests in the seamless integration of disparate materials—the leather-wrapped surfaces meeting wood with precision that speaks to sophisticated joinery and finishing techniques. Particularly noteworthy are the drawer pulls, which appear as miniature sculptural objects with organic, possibly hand-formed qualities suggesting found natural specimens or artisanal metalwork techniques. These elements transform functional hardware into jewelry-like adornments, creating a fitting dialogue between container and potential contents. The cylindrical pedestal base introduces dynamic formal contrast, its curved mass providing visual grounding while lifting the cabinet to an accessible height that invites intimate interaction. The open display alcove creates breathing space within the dense drawer grid, offering a stage for selected objects while breaking the repetitive rhythm with purposeful negative space. This work engages enduring themes of containment, organization, and the elevation of precious personal objects, inviting viewers to consider how well-designed furniture transforms daily rituals of adornment into meaningful ceremonies of selection and care.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Takumi is a jewelry cabinet that merges Japanese craftsmanship principles with contemporary furniture design. Subtle chamfered details on the drawers create visual lightness while preserving structural clarity. The cabinet interior is lined with natural leather and organized through configurable suede compartments to protect delicate pieces. A brass handle cast using a jewelry-grade lost-wax technique becomes the symbolic jewel of the cabinet, transforming storage into an object of ritual and refinement.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions: 850 W x 450 D x 1200 H mm. Weight: 90 kg. Configuration: 15 drawers, customizable in quantity and internal sizing at order. Construction: non-disassemblable. Materials: MDF core clad in certified pau ferro veneer, water-based matte varnish, leather-lined interior, suede compartments, brass handles cast by lost-wax using reclaimed offcuts.
- Tags
- jewelry cabinet, Brazilian design, Japanese craftsmanship, chamfered details, concealed sliding system, brass casting, leather-lined interior, artisanal woodworking, contemporary furniture
- Production Technology
- Takumi features an MDF core for dimensional stability, clad in certified pau ferro veneer and finished with water-based matte varnish. A concealed sliding system operates without lateral panels, creating a floating drawer effect. The interior is lined with natural leather and removable suede dividers. Brass handles are cast through lost wax using reclaimed offcuts, reducing waste and optimizing production cost.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was achieving visual lightness while accommodating fifteen drawers without visible structural reinforcement. Engineering a concealed sliding system that eliminated lateral panels required repeated testing and structural recalibration. Integrating lost-wax brass casting into the cabinet demanded coordination between furniture and metal production processes.
- Project Duration
- The project started in July 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was completed in October 2025. It was officially launched in November 2025 as part of the Tokyo Collection, a broader furniture series inspired by Japanese culture and craftsmanship.
- Operation Flow
- Takumi offers a calm and deliberate experience when storing personal jewelry. The multiple drawers feature full extension slides, allowing complete visibility and effortless access to each compartment. The vertical organization creates a sense of order and clarity. Suede-lined dividers can be removed and repositioned, enabling flexible handling of pieces outside the cabinet. The interaction encourages a relaxed, attentive moment of care and organization.
- Research
- The project developed a jewelry cabinet balancing visual lightness and structural clarity. Material tests and joinery studies defined construction, while iterative prototyping refined proportions and drawer performance. Observation of storage habits shaped the internal layout. Alignment and concealed sliding tests ensured precision. The result improves usability while reinforcing craft-based contemporary furniture design.
- Inspiration
- Takumi was inspired by the principles of Japanese craftsmanship and the intimate ritual of storing personal jewelry. The project investigates how restrained aesthetics and the lightness provided by refined woodworking details can structure a dignified container for meaningful objects. The name Takumi meaning master artisan, guided its development, while the incorporation of jewelry-making techniques into the brass handle reinforces the dialogue between the cabinet and the precious items it protects.