"House of Things" Set: Ramie pouch by Sung-mi Kim and two ginkgo spoons by Sung-woo Choi

This set brings together the work of two talented Korean artisans who know each other well: a ramie pouch by Sung-mi Kim, who specializes in traditional Korean sewing, which houses two hand-carved wooden ginkgo spoons by Sung-woo Choi.

The pouch is made from Korean ramie fabric ( mosi ), hand-woven and dyed by Sung-mi with calligraphy ink, inspired by the misty Korean mountains. The textiles Sung-mi uses, carefully sought out in traditional markets, are rare treasures spun and woven by elderly women who perpetuate ancestral traditions. With respect and patience, Sung-mi imagines small objects to magnify these textiles. For this pouch, she wanted to create a kind of home for the delicate woodwork of her friend Sung-woo, letting the fibers of the textile appear and whose delicate details of added threads bring great poetry.

Trained for three years in Japan as a seamstress after initial training in carpentry, Sung-mi, who lives in Seoul, completed her apprenticeship in Korea with a traditional sewing teacher. She works exclusively by hand, using natural Korean materials such as ramie, hemp, and cotton, which she dyes herself using natural processes. Each piece is unique, determined by the textile itself.

The two wooden ginkgo spoons are signed Sung-woo Choi, an atypical Korean craftsman, who was first an engineer in the automotive industry, before discovering the beauty of wood and embarking on a career as an artisan sculptor of wooden objects. The wood, which Sung Woo finds while walking in the mountains around his home, was worked with a very time-consuming method that consists of first designing the piece through a very rational approach to volumes and shapes, which involves 3D drawings, a legacy of Sung-woo's early life. Then he carves each piece for a long time, patiently and intensely from a piece of wood, and puts it through different stages to allow it to be suitable for food use (water, fire, and natural walnut oil).

The result is stunningly beautiful, like a perfect little work of art. Light, soft, playful, useful, and/or decorative objects. The spoon, made of birch wood, represents a delicate ginkgo leaf and will find its place in the kitchen or as a wonderful decorative object. The long, thin spatula in the shape of ginkgo leaves, also made of birch wood, can be used as a chashaku to transfer matcha tea into the chawan, as a spoon to scoop spices, as a drink stirrer, or simply as an incredibly decorative object.

Each piece in the series is different, so surprise is also part of the experience: wood that is more or less dark, handle that is longer or shorter... the ginkgo spoons you will receive will be unique.

The House of Things set offers a delicate and precious combination of textiles and wood, with the same attention paid to ancient materials, slow movements, and the beauty of simple shapes.

Set consisting of a Korean ramie pouch naturally dyed with calligraphy ink (by Sung-mi Kim), a ginkgo spoon, and a birch wood ginkgo spatula (by Sung-woo Choi). Each set is unique and entirely handmade.

To discover the work of Sung-woo Choi you can read the article we dedicated to him in our Inspirations section here . Discover the work of Sung-mi Kim and her portrait in this article , which also helps us understand the heritage of sewing in Korea. Finally, to better understand the importance of ramie in Korea, you can read our full article on the subject here .

CARE INSTRUCTIONS : For the spoons: Clean with a soft cloth and a little warm water. Do not use in the microwave, oven, or dishwasher. For the pouch: a little water and Marseille soap in case of a stain, then let it dry flat. Light ironing, carried out before the fabric is completely dry, allows it to regain its shape if necessary.

Photographs Sung Woo and workshop: ©️ Shin Namu ; product, workshop and Sung-mi photographs: ©️ Atelier Ikiwa