King Chin Salt, Pepper and Spice Grinder

Overview

Design by Stefano Giovannoni, 2007.
By Alessi.

The collaboration between Alessi and the National Palace Museum of Taiwan grew out of the museum's wish to open itself further to the international scene, and to encourage greater awareness of Chinese history and culture in the West. Alessi asked Stefano Giovannoni to imagine and design a sort of mascot for the new Museum of the 21st Century. From this was born the "Family of Mr. Chin" series for the "A di Alessi" catalogue: a group of characters, each of whom represents a specific household function. "King Chin" is also a new chapter in the lucid design language that characterizes Stefano's work: instead of the usual method of casting a single piece of plastic from a single injection, the character-objects are made with separate molds (head, hat, body, foot, pompom) which are then assembled like wooden soldiers or porcelain dolls, thereby giving greater articulation to the typical wit and refinement of Giovannoni's decorations of the clothes, which are hand-painted.