ARTEFACT GALLERY #2.2

Cucharillas para café y mermelada inspiradas en la naturaleza

Proposed by:

Lucía Pérez Fernández
(PhD Candidate, Management & Coordination at CULTURALITY Project)

Santiago Rodriguez Pérez
(Postdoctoral Fellow Researcher & Fieldwork lead at CULTURALITY Project)

Universidad de Oviedo - SPAIN

Figure 1 – Variety of stainless-steel spoons with different ornamental details inspired by nature, ranging from oak leaves to poppy flowers. Source: photo taken by the artisan.

Figure 2 – Two handcrafted stainless-steel spoons by Keiko Shimizu, featuring leaf-shaped details inspired by chestnut and oak trees. Source: photo taken by the artisan.

Figure 3 – Spoon by Keiko Shimizu, showcasing a forged poppy flower at the tip of its handle, as inspired by the flowers in her garden. Source: photo taken by the artisan.

Technical Specifications

Name

Cucharillas para café y mermelada inspiradas en la naturaleza/Nature-inspired jam and coffee spoons

Tipology

Cutlery forging

Authorship

Designed and handcrafted by Keiko Shimizu (清水敬子) of Hyottoko Artesanía

Date or period:

2025

Materials:

18/10 stainless steel

Techniques:

Forging, welding and polishing

Country/ region:

Spain, Principality of Asturias, Santalla de Oscos

What about this artefact?

In a region known for its long tradition of knife and blade making, Japanese artisan Keiko Shimizu has dedicated her craft to a slightly humbler object: the spoon. Her approach elevates everyday things, bringing softness and beauty into a field renown for prioritizing utility.

Each piece is lovingly designed and handcrafted by her, and all feature slender, elongated handles that bloom into small, organic shapes: chestnut and oak tree leaves, or poppies resembling the flowers in the garden that surrounds her rural home in the heart of Santalla de Oscos.

In her very own words, spoons are her favourite to make: “I think having pretty utensils for daily rituals can brighten up the routine.” Her line of work is the result of a careful blend of craftmanship and a delicate sensitivity for the ordinary, as she keeps on reshaping the local forging heritage through gentle, nature-inspired design.

DETAILS

Figures 5 & 6 – Close-up view of the poppy flower and oak and chestnut leaves details on the handles of the spoons. Source: photo taken by the artisan.

Inspiration

Figure 7 – Oak leaves. Source: photo taken by the artisan.

Figure 8 – Asturian chestnut leaves. Source: photo taken by the artisan.

Location

The selection of this artefact is the responsibility of designer Maria Bruno Néo and is part of her doctoral work ‘A HISTÓRIA INCOMPLETA DO DESIGN PORTUGUÊS: CONTRIBUTOS PARA A INSCRIÇÃO DA DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO/THE INCOMPLETE HISTORY OF PORTUGUESE DESIGN: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSCRIPTION OF DESIGNER HELENA CARDOSO’ supervised by Professors Susana Barreto and Luís Mendonça, both from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Porto/Portugal.