Dezeen Magazine

Objects in Neri&Hu's Cabinet of Curiosity symbolise the seven deadly sins

Milan 2015: Chinese studio Neri&Hu has designed a wooden cabinet and seven objects to go inside – one to represent each of the seven deadly sins (+ slideshow).

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu

The Cabinet of Curiosity for furniture brand Stellar Works is a tall wooden storage unit with glass doors on the front and back.

Metal mesh covers the sides and the cabinet sits on a metal trolley. Inside are seven objects made from walnut, brass and porcelain.

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu

"The Cabinet of Curiosity is intended to hold objects that contain links to the many secrets of our personas that we wish to reveal, mask, or memorialise," said Neri&Hu.

"We imagine that these secrets are somehow, consciously or unconsciously, tied to the inner sins we all try to hide," the designers added. "Through time, inevitably, all hidden is revealed, and sins are redeemed by the light."

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu

A brass hand-mirror with an elongated handle represents pride, while a wooden abacus featuring five beads in brass and the rest in blackened walnut symbolises greed.

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu
Pride hand mirror

Lust is expressed as a tall glass candle holder on a walnut base with a brass handle, and envy is displayed with a wooden and brass weight for hanging on a set of scales.

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu
Lust candle holder

A small brass dagger with a similar handle to the mirror signifies wrath and sloth is portrayed with a hand-painted Arita porcelain sake drinking set consisting of bottles, cups and a diffuser.

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu
Anger letter opener

Finally, gluttony is symbolised by a seven-piece porcelain tableware set, each piece embossed with an animal image corresponding to one of the deadly sins.

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu
Gluttony plate set

The cabinet was inspired by the carts used in a typical ceramic factory to wheel objects into the kiln for firing.

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu
Greed abacus

"The furnace represents the trials and tribulations we all encounter in life, from which we offer up sweat and tears, pain and pleasure, yet it is through the burning of these sins and secrets that we walk out white as snow," said Neri&Hu. "Secrets revealed. Or secrets concealed. That is up to us."

Cabinet of Curiosity by Stellar Works x Neri & Hu
Sloth bottle and cups

"In employing a Chinese designer (Neri & Hu) and a Japanese manufacturer (Arita), the Cabinet of Curiosity aims to explore the centuries-old relationship between Japanese and Chinese design and manufacturing, especially in porcelain," said a statement from Stellar Works.

Envy weight for Neri&Hu's Cabinet of Curiosity
Envy weight

The cabinet and products were presented at Spazio Rossana Orlandi during April's Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan.

As part of the exhibition, visitors were encouraged to write down their confessions in sealed envelopes and assign them to a particular sin in exchange for a cocktail specially created for each vice.