Dezeen Magazine

Formafantasma uses saxophones and a brass pendulum to track the passing of time

London Design Festival 2014: Italian design duo Formafantasma has installed a range of unusual timepieces in the showroom of British furniture brand Established & Sons.

Formafantasma for Established and Sons

Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of Formafantasma created the time-themed installation, titled From Then On, to mark Established & Sons' tenth anniversary.

"From Then On was an ambitious proposal from a design studio I greatly admire," said Established & Sons CEO Maurizio Mussati. "We made a joint decision to look at the passing of time, with our tenth anniversary approaching."

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Marble clock

Each of the clocks by the duo marks the passing of time using the qualities of a different material.

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Marble clock

The first is made from a disk of white Carrara marble, split into a central circular section and a surrounding ring.

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Saxophones clock

The clock shows the passing of an hour using a prominent vein running through the centre of the face, which rotates 360 degrees over 60 minutes to align on the hour.

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Saxophones clock

Another piece comprises two saxophones hooked up to a frame, programmed to sound every 15 minutes to "announce and celebrate the experience of daily life as it evolves".

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Fan clock

A fan that opens around a brass disk gradually unfolds over the space of five minutes, forming a full circle before snapping back shut.



Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Fan clock

The final clock comprises a long brass rod with a small brush on its end, hung from a horizontal beam.

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Pendulum clock

The pole swings like a pendulum so the bristles sweep back and forth over a curved brass strip every second, polishing the material bit by bit to prevent oxidisation.

Formafantasma for Established and Sons
Pendulum clock

From Then On will remain at Established & Sons' showroom, 5-7 Wenlock Road, N1 7SL, for the duration of the London Design Festival, which continues until 21 September.

Photography is by Peer Lindgreen.