Merry shopping!

Atollo table lamp

S$1,320, from Macsk

63 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-14

Sultan Link

Designed by Vico Magistretti in 1977, the Atollo's lampshade appears to almost float in mid-air, thanks to the geometric construction of its shapes: a cone-shaped cylinder as its stand, topped with a semisphere.

Its distinctive design has made it not just a table lamp, but one of the best known symbols of Italian design worldwide.

Suzugami plate

From S$38 from atomi

Mandarin Gallery, #04-27

This plate looks almost paper-thin, but don't underestimate it. It is made of 100 per cent tin, which is believed to have anti-bacterial properties, making it suitable for serving food.

The tin ware is made from rhythmic hammering to create this plate. Users can play with it by bending it into the shape and design of their liking. Use a rolling pin to flatten it back to the original shape over and over again. Its colour also changes with each use.

Skeleton Box

S$39, for a set of 3, from Museum Label

National Museum of Singapore or Asian Civilisations Museum

Budding Singaporean designer Mabel Low wanted to create a box, but decided to reduce it to its bare skeleton instead. The result is a series of desktop holders, which can be used to hold flowers and writing instruments.

The Skeleton Box is part of the Everyday Object series, a collaboration between the National Museum and The Farm Store.

Juggernaut 20 Fatbike

S$1,480 from Coast Cycles

54 Siglap Drive

Fatbikes are now the rage, as their fat tyres make it easy to tackle humps and other obstacles. This model has 20-inch tyres and is a compact bike that anyone will take an instant liking to.

The frame has a relaxed, upright geometry which enables riders to have a good view of the surroundings, while the short chain stays allow for responsive handling.

Depending on the ground, riders can opt for sleek tyres for asphalt, to knobby tires for loose surfaces. Great for exercising those extra festive calories off.

Farm to table sprouters

S$13 with four packs of seeds, from Plant Visionz contact@plantvisionz.com

Why buy vegetables when you can grow your own? All that is needed is some table space. Plant Visionz's table sprouters are easy to manage for everyone.

Any edible seeds, as well as pulses, beans and legumes may be sprouted. All it takes is five to nine days, depending on the seed type.

Tree-Labs MUZ Bluetooth Speaker

S$99.90, from The Redundant Shop

Blk 5 Everton Park, #01-22A

PORTABLE speakers tend to fall on the aesthetic front, but not this one. Swiss company Tree-Labs designs trendy wireless audio devices, such as the MUZ (below), a pocket size silicon covered sturdy bluetooth speaker. The speaker not only looks good, but is capable of producing warm sounds too.

Jailhouse Cups

S$64 for a set of four, from Pomelo

315 Outram Road, #10-04, Tan Boon Liat Building

Dutch artist Rob Brandt does a mix of serious art and kitschy stuff. His Jailhouse Cups are an example of the latter. These ceramic cups come with hand-painted "chips" to resemble old enamel cups.

Copper Desk Lamp

S$89, from Make Your Own

estore.makeyourown.sg

Forget getting a mass produced desk lamp. This one here is handcrafted by Singaporean Poh Wenxiang, using copper pipes. Mr Poh also conducts workshop on how to make the lamps, and his e-store also sells the parts for those who want to dabble in some DIY.

Chocolat

From S$36, from Artefacts

By Supermama

Scotts Square, #01-03

These brass pieces look like chocolate hence their name. But in reality, they are meant to be paper weights. They were designed by Singaporean Patrick Chia, who was asked to interpret a paper weight.

Chocolat presents a collection of objects reinterpreted to exhibit the luxuriousness of the brass material.

Luzerne Chanoyu Tea Set

From S$5.50 for a tea cup, from Metro

The Centrepoint, Level 4

For years, homegrown brand Luzerne has made a name for itself creating tableware for leading restaurants and hotels. And now, it has launched its homeware range.

The Chanoyu range is an ode to the finer tradition of Chinese tea appreciation. Made from New Bone, it is 100 per cent lead and cadmium free, and does not use animal bone ash.

It is resistant to thermal shock, and able to withstand extreme temperatures and stay crack-free, thereby making it bacteria proof.

taysc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Dec 22, 2014.
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