Silver A' Design Award Winner 2022
Warm honey-toned ash wood rises in an organic sculptural form, presenting Shuangyong Jin's Clover High Stool as a masterwork of biomorphic furniture design that synthesizes botanical inspiration with consummate woodworking craftsmanship. The tripartite seat configuration, reminiscent of a three-leafed clover viewed from above, creates a distinctive silhouette wherein three rounded lobes converge at a central junction, each petal-form displaying exquisite grain patterns that radiate outward in cathedral-like figuring characteristic of carefully selected ash. The legs emerge seamlessly from beneath each lobe, tapering with elegant entasis from substantial upper sections to refined cylindrical feet, their curvature suggesting the organic tension of plant stems reaching skyward. Compositionally, the stool occupies the central foreground against a deliberately rustic backdrop featuring weathered wooden doors in deep umber and sienna tones, their aged patina providing chromatic counterpoint to the fresh luminosity of the pale wood. A circular brass footrest encircles the lower portion of the legs at approximately one-third height, its warm metallic gleam introducing a complementary material that anchors the floating quality of the wooden elements. The spatial arrangement follows classical triangular stability, with the three-point leg configuration creating visual equilibrium while the negative spaces between legs form graceful Gothic arch silhouettes. Natural daylight enters from the upper left, casting subtle shadows that accentuate the sculptural volumes and reveal the satiny surface finish achieved through meticulous sanding and sealing. Scattered bay leaves on the gray stone pavement introduce organic debris that contextualizes the piece within an artisanal courtyard setting, suggesting the intersection of craft tradition and contemporary design innovation.
The structure of the stool is inspired by the classic Romanesque arch and the top surface is in the shape of a four-leaf clover. Each "leaf" is made by pieces of wood strips in mosaic pattern. The curvy stool legs are carved by CNC machine in the first step and then fine tuned by hand polishing. Connected by a bespoke mortise and tenon joint in the center, it ensures the stability of the structure, in addition, breaks the traditional orthodox image of Chinese woodwork. This piece of creature integrates modernity and heritage in terms of both design and crafts.