ARAM :: News & Events

Aram Presents Mattiazzi – Clerkenwell Design Week

Aram presents Mattiazzi

Aram will be exhibiting at Clerkenwell Design Week (22-24 May 2012) for the first time this year and, as the UK agents for Mattiazzi, we are very pleased to be presenting a selection of new products they unveiled only last month at Salone del Mobile in Milan.

In 1979, brothers Nevio and Fabiano Mattiazzi set up their company in Friuli, in the eastern part of Italy; an area with a long and rich tradition of handicraft and woodworking.

Details of the She Said Chair by Studio Nitzan Cohen

The brothers have a particular philosophy which makes Mattiazzi unique. The traditional craft approach to their design work combined with the latest in CNC machinery means the quality of their furniture remains sharp and accurate yet still shaped and finished by hand. They are also committed to environmental sustainability and this can be seen from their use of locally sourced wood through to powering their machinery via solar panels on the factory roof and even heating the factory in winter time using wood-waste discarded in production.

Their reputation and quality of craftsmanship has begun to attract some of the best known designers to work with them. Starting with Nitzan Cohen, they are now producing designs by Sam Hecht (Industrial Facility), Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, and Konstantin Grcic.

Solo by Studio Nitzan Cohen

Branca Chair by Sam Hecht & Industrial Facility

Osso Chair by the Bouroullec Brothers

Osso Stool by the Bouroullec Brothers

Konstantin Grcic feels that working with Mattiazzi took him all the way back to his professional roots when he trained as a cabinet maker. Konstantin says that his Medici Chair is ‘inspired by the material, by the machinery and, of course, by the skill and craftsmanship of the people we worked with’.

Medici Chair by Konstantin Grcic

Aram is proud to be the UK agent for Mattiazzi and we look forward to seeing you at the festival. You will find us at Stand Number: MW15 situated on the second floor of the The Farmiloe Building 34 St. John Street London EC1M 4AY.

ARAM STORE

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20% Off Bauhaus Designs

Posted by
Aram May 3, 2012

20% Off Bauhaus Designs

To celebrate the collaborative exhibitions, Bauhaus: Art as Life at Barbican Centre (opening 3rd May) and Bauhaus Live at The Aram Gallery (opening 18th May), ARAM STORE is offering a 20% discount in store and online on selected furniture and lighting by Bauhaus Masters – Marcel Breuer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Wilhelm Wagenfeld. The offer will run from the 3rd of May until the 12th of August.

We are also offering a chance to win a FREE Wagenfeld Lamp, worth £390.00, to anyone signed up to the ARAM STORE mailing list before the 12th of August. A winner will be picked randomly and notified by email.

The Bauhaus Masters selection included in the 20% discount offer is as follows:


Barcelona Chair From £4,848 Now from £3,878.40	Barcelona Stool From £2,412 Now from £1,929.60

Barcelona Daybed From £8,640 Now from £6,912	Barcelona Table £1,368 Now £1,094.40

Brno Flat Bar Chair From £1,970 Now from £1,576	Brno Tubular Bar Chair From £1,416 Now from £1,132.80

Wassily Chair From £1,428 Now from £1,142.40	MR Low Table £795 Now £636

Laccio Long Low Table £624 Now £499.20	Laccio Short Low Table £372 Now £297.60

B9 Nest of Tables £1,414 Now £1,131.20	S285/1 Desk £3,223 Now £2,578.40

S285 Desk – Shelves £2,077 Now £1,661.60	S285 Desk – Drawers £3,643 Now £2,914.40

M45 Breuer Desk £2,135 Now £1,708	Wagenfeld Lamp £390 Now £312

For online orders, the discount will be applied automatically when one of these items is placed in the shopping cart. Please contact the Store for any finishes/colours not listed online.

ARAM STORE

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New at Aram Store

Posted by
Aram April 18, 2012

We have recently taken delivery of the Gray 37LG Dining Table by Gervasoni. Designed by Paola Navone, the table top is finished in white Carrara marble with a supporting frame and legs composed of solid and beautifully turned American Walnut. The oval shaped top is also available in natural Oak, rough cut slate or American Walnut.

Gray 37LG Dining Table

Gervasoni, founded in 1882, is a world renowned furniture manufacturer that is currently managed by the third generation of the family. The production techniques may have changed over the years but their passion for beautiful and artfully produced furniture has never waned and remains the hallmark of a Gervasoni product.

Also in store are new products to compliment our Home Accessories collection. Natura Jars, Koko Bowls and Koko Jugs are produced using 100% recycled extra-clear glass with a further commitment to environmental sustainability that extends all the way through their manufacturing process by using only organic pigments to colour the glass and 100% recycled card packaging.

Natura Jars, Koko Jugs and Koko Bowls

The Perrette and Pik wooden vessels provide a practical yet elegant alternative to containing and displaying fruit, snacks, kitchen utensils, plants, flowers, pens, pencils… pretty much anything.

The Perrette bowls and tubs are inspired by old buckets and wooden milk jugs found throughout the farming region of Upper Jura in Eastern France. They are composed of Lime Tree wood with a swipe of colour at the end of each handle and available in three sizes.

The Pik vases are formed of three painted beech wood cylinders each containing a small glass tube to display a single stem flower. Available in two colourways: pink/purple/white and light green/dark green/white.

Follow the links for further details and to buy online.

ARAM STORE

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10 Years of Aram Store

Posted by
Aram March 14, 2012

Aram Store at 110 Drury Lane

Aram Designs was founded in 1963 and in 1964 Zeev Aram opened his shop at 57 King’s Road, Chelsea. He was the first to introduce designs by Marcel Breuer, the Castiglione brothers and Scarpa to the UK market, swiftly followed by designs from Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret. In 1973, Aram Designs moved to larger premises at 3 Kean Street, Covent Garden – the same year that Eileen Gray granted Zeev the worldwide licence to produce and distribute her timeless designs.

Having bought the building next door to 3 Kean Street, and having been joined at Aram Designs by his son and daughter, Daniel and Ruth, Zeev expanded the enterprise to create Aram Store – 20,000 square feet of showroom space and a gallery spread over four floors of the old Victorian warehouse – which opened its doors on the 4^th April 2002.

To celebrate ten years of the Aram Store at 110 Drury Lane we are delighted to offer ten great promotions throughout the rest of 2012

Our first promotion coincides with the arrival of Spring. We are offering 15% off any item in our outdoor range. Included are the Tagliatelle Chair by Jasper Morrison and the Open Chair and Table by James Irvine for Alias:

The Bubble Rock outdoor sofa by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani:

Summer Chair Covers in canvas – printed with four colourful styles of chairs which will fit over and tie around almost any chair to give it a new lease of life:

Summer Chair Covers in Canvas

Also included in the promotion are the new outdoor versions of the LC range of classic designs by Le Corbusier, Perriand and Jeanneret for Cassina. A structure in high grade stainless steel, naturally draining cushion fillings and fabrics developed for the boating industry provide a level of durability that ensures the furniture will remain in perfect condition. These advanced materials make the new outdoor range a truly versatile and long-lasting option for these iconic pieces.

The LC1 Outdoor Chair

The LC7 Outdoor Chair

Make sure that you sign up to our email newsletter to make sure that you find out about our next wonderful promotion.

ARAM STORE

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Cologne and Paris Fairs

Posted by
Ruth Aram February 21, 2012

The first round of this year’s trade fairs did not disappoint – IMM Cologne was busier and more up-beat than in recent years and Maison & Objet in Paris was, as usual, full of the confidence and excitement of a fair growing in importance all the time with more major furniture brands than ever exhibiting.

Here are my highlights:

In Cologne, we tend to concentrate on German, Swiss and Scandinavian suppliers who may not show in Milan.

The German manufacturer COR introduced a very attractive high back version of their successful ‘Jalis’ dining chair. And we were also impressed with the new, supremely comfortable ‘Cordia’ Easy Chair: a recliner with accompanying foot stool which also manages to get that difficult balance between beauty and functionality just right.

Cordia Lounge Chair and Ottoman

The ‘Gordon’ Sofa is a great new addition to Walter Knoll’s upholstery range which has a higher than average back providing better neck support whilst keeping simple clean lines. And, with the continuing trend towards solid wood dining tables, the introduction of their new ‘Tobu’ Table finished in solid walnut is very timely.

Gordon Sofa

Tobu Table

The archive of Hans Wegner’s designs has been revisited again by Carl Hansen as they re-introduce the ‘CH33’ chair. Originally designed in 1957, it has all the retro Scandinavian appeal of the rest of their range but is well priced and makes a nice alternative to the best-selling CH24 ‘Wishbone’ chair.

CH 33 Chairs

Another high calibre Danish brand, Montana, have added new features to their iconic storage system. Doors and drawers are now available to order with push-opening mechanisms eliminating the need for handles which should appeal to lovers of the minimalist aesthetic. But, for those who prefer a handle, they are now available to order in all the colours of the current palette to match or contrast with the units.

New colours and new doors for Montana

At Maison & Objet (Paris), we liked the new, height adjustable, ‘Tom & Jerry’ Stools designed by Konstantin Grcic and the ‘My Storage’ range of shelving by Ineke Hans, both manufactured by Magis.

Tom & Jerry Stools and My Storage

We also saw a huge variety of brightly coloured, fun accessories including bags, bowls & ceramics and in the ‘ethnic chic’ hall there were some beautiful old kilims which would look wonderful displayed with our furniture.

Keep a look-out in the store and online for these new items soon.

RUTH ARAM

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Is This An Original?

Posted by
Myles Brown January 24, 2012

A frequent enquiry we receive here at Aram Store is from customers seeking verification of what they think and hope will be a genuinely iconic piece of furniture that they are thinking about purchasing, have inherited or just stumbled across upon Ebay. But, this line of enquiry is almost always accompanied by the common misinterpretation of the term ‘original’ when applied to furniture design in that it should only be designated to products that were manufactured during the earliest years of their production. We believe that any product that has been produced by the legally authorised manufacturer should be considered an ‘original’, regardless of its age.

In an ideal world, the quickest and most obvious way to tell whether a particular piece of furniture has been produced by the authorised and licensed manufacturer should of course be the reputation and assurance of the seller. But, if you are not sure, there are a further series of checks you can make.

We hope the following tips on what particular features, stamps and references to look for on a selected range of prolifically copied furniture classics will help you to avoid being duped.

E1027 Adjustable Table
by Eileen Gray
Worldwide Licence Holder: Aram Designs Ltd

The Eileen Gray signature stamp that appears on the inside of the outer upright tube was introduced about 8 years ago. This stamp also has a unique identification number, the words AUTHORISED BY ARAM DESIGNS LTD, and the ClassiCon logo (ClassiCon is Aram’s sub-licence holder in Germany).
There is a small protuberance that appears on the top of the handle and this as well as the curved shape of the height adjusting bracket are features that have not changed since the table was first put into production by Eileen Gray and Zeev Aram in the mid 1970s.
The frame of the authorised edition is only ever produced in chromium plated steel tube with the choice of a crystal clear glass, smoked (parsol) glass or black lacquered steel top. Prices for the authorised model with a clear glass top insert start at £585.00

LC4 Chaise Longue
By Le Corbusier, P. Jeanneret & C. Perriand
Licence holder & manufacturer: Cassina Spa Ltd

Cassina has been manufacturing the authorised editions of Le Corbusier’s legacy of designs since 1964 but, over time, the form of identification on these pieces has altered. Since the beginning, the frame of every model would have been stamped with just an identification number – which Cassina can still use to verify authenticity to this day – but the Le Corbusier signature was added later on for further definition.
The red ‘Maestri’ label came next.
Then at the beginning of 2010, Cassina introduced the current stamp combining all the existing motifs plus the signatures of co-designers Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand.
This stamp can be found running along the outside of the chrome, tubular frame just behind the headrest. Prices for the authorised model with a leather seat pad and chrome frame start at £2,140.00

Barcelona Chair
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Licence holder & manufacturer: Knoll International

The current, definitive ‘Knoll Studio’ logo and Mies van der Rohe signature stamp has only been applied to the Barcelona Chair since 1995. You will find this stamp on the outside of the right-hand rear leg but models of the Barcelona Chair produced before this date can still be identified by a few distinguishing design features that will belie a copy.
The seat and back cushions are adapted to accommodate the curved profile of the rear frame. The top of the back cushion should be aligned with the top of the frame, not sit proud, and the band of leather that surrounds the cushions should be uninterrupted i.e. without a seam of stitching on the corners.
The cushions can only be upholstered in leather and the frame is always finished in high-polished steel. Prices for an authorised model start at £4,850.00

Arco Lamp
By Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Licence holder & manufacturer: Flos Spa

The iconic Arco Lamp, designed in 1962, has suffered a drastic amount of imitators but the original, licenced version has only ever been manufactured by Flos. The base of the lamp is composed of white Cararra marble with chamfered corners and a hole through which, for example, a broom handle can be passed to make lifting and positioning easier.
Further identification can be found on the inside of the polished aluminium, swivelling ring that surrounds the perforated diffuser where a label has been attached displaying the Flos logo.
Excluding electrical specifications and the Limited Edition run with a black marble base in 2002, the materials used in the production of the Arco Lamp have not changed since its launch 50 years ago. The price for an authorised model is £1,620.00

Eames Lounge Chair
By Charles & Ray Eames
Licence holder & manufacturer
for Europe and the Middle East: Vitra

As with the Arco Lamp, the Eames Lounge Chair has spawned an immeasurable amount of pretenders but the only authorised manufacturer of Eames products for Europe and the Middle East is Vitra. Herman Miller holds the same licence for the U.S. region.
An immediate form of identification can be found on a label positioned on the underside of the seat shell denoting the Vitra logo and Charles Eames’ signature. The base is a component which, under scrutiny, will often reveal a copy as an original is five legged and neither flat to the floor nor too steeply angled.
Plus, there are only three finish options for the base: polished or chromed aluminium and the classic black sided with a polished aluminium trim.
The armrest should be curved, dropping in and just finishing shy of the seat, and you will find no visible screws or bolts in the veneered shell of an original model. Not one. Prices for an authorised model start at £3,535.00

The purchase and resale of unauthorised iconic designs in the UK is a long running and very contentious issue. The same problems do not arise in the rest of the EU where designers and consumers are more protected by copyright law. Recently, extra spice has been added to the topic of unauthorised copies with Michelle Ogundehin’s (Editor-in-Chief of Elle Decoration Magazine) campaign to highlight the hypocrisy of this double standard by using the example of Samantha Cameron (who works for Smythson) having a cheap, unauthorised copy of the Arco Lamp installed at 10 Downing Street.

Obviously, here at Aram Store, we stand very firmly alongside the ethos of investing in licenced and authentically produced pieces of furniture and our belief in this stance was summed up in a succinct quote from Daniel Aram (Managing Director) when asked for his thoughts on this issue within a relevant article in Elle Decoration Magazine a few years ago…

‘An authorised version is made by trained, dedicated craftsmen and will last a lifetime. Cheap copies don’t.’

MYLES BROWN ©

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Naturally Beautiful

Posted by
Aram January 16, 2012

Series 7 New Wood Finishes

One of the world’s most famous Danish design icons and Fritz Hansen’s best selling design, the Series 7™ chair goes ‘au naturel’ in an entirely new Series 7 collection that will be launched by Fritz Hansen in February 2012. The new Series 7 collection celebrates the designs natural beauty as the chair is brought back into its original form in a series of wooden veneer variations. This natural material was the one originally chosen by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen to create the Series 7 design and as such is an important part of Scandinavian design history.

The design’s natural beauty is embraced by Danish furniture manufacturer Fritz Hansen who is introducing the Series 7 in a range of wood veneer variations including Maple, Ash, Beech, Cherry, Oregon Pine, Elm, Oak, Walnut and Dark Stained Oak. With each type of wood veneer naturally holding hundreds of shades of colour, it is always possible to find a kind of wood that matches your existing interior.

To highlight the natural beauty of the Series 7 chair, nine new colours are being introduced which are inspired by the original colour pallet designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1968. The new colours are designed to work with the natural colour that is exhibited in the wood veneer and includes; white, light grey, dark grey, black, yellow, orange, red, petrol blue and sage green.

The Series 7 was one of the first chairs ever produced in one piece of laminated veneer by Fritz Hansen in 1955; a technique which advanced from the manufacturer of airplane propellers. The Series 7 design has experienced a lifetime of success travelling the world furnishing architectural masterpieces and private homes, as well as enduring celebrity status. Despite its strenuous schedule, the 56 year old design has aged with beauty and is today one of the worlds most recognised and much loved Danish design icons. The new veneer and colour variations will also be introduced to other family members of the Arne Jacobsen stacking chair collection including the Ant™, Grand Prix™ and Lily™ chair.

ARAM STORE

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Aram Store Sale

Posted by
Aram December 19, 2011

The Aram Store Sale starts at 10am on Saturday 7th January 2012 and will last until Saturday 4th February 2012.

UPDATE: 30th Jan – SALE EXTENDED UNTIL SAT 11th FEBRUARY due to popular demand!

There will be some fantastic offers on ex-display items – 75% off two ‘star buys’: an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in snow leather and white pigmented walnut, which was £5,565 sale price £1,391 SOLD, and the anniversary edition Swan Chair in white leather and pearl white base, which was £6,555 sale price £1,638 SOLD.

UPDATE: 7th Jan – These items have now been ALL BEEN SOLD but there are more ex-display items on sale in store.

Eames Lounge Chair and White Anniversary Swan

There will be a 20% discount off all new orders placed during the sale period (including orders placed online – the discount will be applied automatically in the shopping cart – excluding FLOS lighting).

Plus there is our exclusive sale promotion: spend over £1,000 (after discounts) and purchase the timeless Wendingen Rug by Eileen Gray for half the normal price, was £2,335 sale offer £1,167.50.
Other ex-display pieces include:
	A set of 4 Lily Series 8 Chairs in Dark Chocolate Painted Beech at 50% off for the set, was £1,580 sale price £790 SOLD and 2 in Black Painted Beech at 50% off, was £395 each sale price £197.50 each SOLD
A Utrecht Chair by Gerrit Rietveld for Cassina in beige wool fabric at 50% off, was £2,295 sale price £1,147.50 SOLD

Suita Sofa Configuration

There is a fantastic opportunity to purchase a complete Suita sofa configuration at 40% off for the set, comprising a two-seat one-arm unit with rear table, chaise unit with headrest, large ottoman with Alexander Girard print slip cover and five scatter cushions, was £9,706 sale price £5,824. Suita is designed by Antonio Citterio for Vitra.

Nathalie Bed with Storage Base

A Nathalie Bed with storage base (excluding mattress) by Vico Magistretti for Flou in midnight blue removable fabric covers at 40% off, was £2,985 sale price £1,791 SOLD.

Other ex-display pieces with sale discounts available for purchase in store include: a red canvas PK22 easy chair; white polypropylene Panton chairs; a black plastic PK8 chair; an Archibald chair and Ottoman in cream leather; a complete Extrasoft sofa configuration in maroon fabric; a Met sofa in black fabric; an Egadi sofa in black fabric; a Bretagne sofa in cream leather; a set of Fino chairs in cement leather; a Box armchair in blue fabric, plus many more.

These ex-display offers are only available for purchase in store on a first-come-first-served basis; be sure to arrive early on Saturday 7th January as we expect a queue!

ARAM STORE

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Montana Wardrobes

Posted by
Aram December 2, 2011

Montana Units on Plinths

Peter Lassen designed his modular storage system for Montana Møbler originally in 1982. A hugely versatile system based on the DIN format, it offers literally billions of configurations to fit an almost infinite range of requirements and options. The ‘cardinal number’ of 5.7 creates 42 basic units which are available in 4 different depths and 49 different colours. To the basic unit can be added a plethora of doors, drawers and trays, plinths, castors and legs. The units can be stacked high or hung onto load-bearing walls. There really is no end of possibilities.

Montana Wardrobe - Large

In the first major evolution since its inception, Montana Møbler have introduced the Montana Wardrobe. A completely new concept that breaks with the tradition of a wardrobe as a closet or a space for just storing clothes and shoes. It is a flexible modular system that allows you to express your own style and add aesthetic and functional value to your home. The philosophy behind Montana Wardrobe is that a wardrobe shouldn’t just occupy a wall – it should give you the freedom to personalise it with your own style, maintaining the depth and height of the room and giving it character.

Montana Wardrobe - White

Montana Wardrobe is a well-considered design consisting of five modules that can be combined and built together according to your desires and needs. Various components with exquisite details can be added to the cabinets, helping to keep order. Crucially – like the original system – it can also be hung on a load-bearing wall, or even placed on a mobile base with castors.

Montana Wardrobe - Details

The drawer components – which all feature full extension and soft closure – offer deep vertical drawers that can be fitted with rails for trousers, shelves, shallow fabric baskets or even deep fabric laundry baskets and rubber lined show racks.

Aram Store has been selling the Montana system for many years and has a wealth of experience on which to draw to help you plan your own personal configuration. We have powerful computer software that can assist you to visualise the units in situ. You can try out the planning software for yourself by clicking here. We also have a wide range of configurations – including the new Wardrobe system – on display in our Covent Garden showroom.

ARAM STORE

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Pantone Baubles

Posted by
Aram November 25, 2011

We’re really looking forward to receiving our stock of these fantastic Pantone colour coded Christmas tree baubles.

Each glass bauble is painted with an official Pantone colour and includes the reference code on the white lower section. A very elegant alternative decoration for your tree this year.

Cool Grey