Saturday 31 October 2015

Cohncave bowl - Susan Cohn

‘Memory Containers’ was the project theme set by Alessi for two hundred invited international designers and artisans in 1990. Following the success of her show in Tokyo that year, Susan Cohn, a gold and silversmith from Melbourne, was invited to participate.

Inspired by early Australian colonial meat safes constructed from timber with perforated metal panels, Cohn designed a large diameter twin layer fruit bowl. 

In each unique Cohncave bowl the two perforated layers are offset to produce a moiré pattern. Cohn’s concept for a mass produced artisan piece saw the Cohncave short listed to a final group of nine designs. 

All short listed designers submitted sketches – except for Cohn – who presented an exquisite prototype still prized by Alberto Alessi. The Cohncave was released in 1992 and Cohn would become the first of many Melbourne designers to work with Alessi.

Text from the catalogue for BlackBOX - Design and Innovation | Melbourne Australia  ISBN 978–1–921994–38–8


Cohncave bowl designed by Susan Cohn for Alessi


Moiré pattern created in the Cohncave bowl was inspired by early Australian meat safes.


Cohncave bowl designed in Melbourne by Susan Cohn for Alessi


Alessi Cohncave bowl designed in Melbourne by Susan Cohn


Cohncave bowl designed by Susan Cohn for Alessi



Cohncave bowl designed by Susan Cohn for Alessi


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