AJI PROJECT SS - UMBRELLA STAND / cube / rust

AJI PROJECT

This product is from "AJI PROJECT", a brand of beautiful interior designs using Aji stone.
Aji stone is a high-grade granite quarried from the rock face of Mt. Goken, which spans Mure-cho and Aji-cho in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.

The brand was established in 2012 by 13 local stonemasons and volunteers from the chamber of commerce and industry, with the desire to share its appeal with more people.

Aji stone is a historic stone material that has been traditionally used in building materials and stone statues for over 400 years.
AJI PROJECT sublimates its natural form and texture into designs that blend with modern lifestyles.

The compact cube-shaped umbrella stand has a small hole at the top for inserting umbrellas and delicate holes at the bottom for drainage, creating a simple yet captivating design.
Its minimalist shape and moderate weight securely support umbrellas, and it is likely to be very useful during the upcoming rainy season.

Rich Texture Woven by Differences in Grain Size

The minerals contained in Aji stone have small crystals, and are classified into "Komame" (fine-grained) and "Chūme" (medium-grained) depending on the size of their grains.
In addition, brownish stones containing a lot of iron are called "Sabi-ishi" (rust stone) in the production area.

The Komame stone on the bottom left is characterized by its fine-grained surface, and when polished carefully, it reveals a beautiful pattern like a double kasuri (splash pattern).

The Chūme stone on the bottom right is characterized by smaller biotite grains, which are one of the main components of Aji stone, making it appear slightly whiter than Komame.

The Sabi-ishi at the top center has long been used for gardens, but in recent years, it has also attracted attention as a building material.
It gets its name from its brownish "sabi (rust) color," and it is surprising that it deepens with time, and the beauty of its natural surface brings a calming effect.

Elegant and Robust Aji Stone

Aji stone is a type of granite, but it is also called the "diamond of granite" because of the beauty of its fine crystals.

Aji stone is also characterized by its high hardness and strong resistance to weathering.
Because of the strong bond of its fine crystals, it is said that delicate craftsmanship that cannot be imitated by other stones can be applied to it.

Forms that naturally blend into any space

AJI PROJECT products are developed with careful consideration for the placement of the stone, valuing the texture of the Aji stone.
Although seemingly unconventional, they somehow blend naturally into various spaces as if they had always been there.

Stone forms that bring a clear breeze to your space

The Aji stone production area has a long history as a place where the stone industry flourished, and it is also known for the high skills of its craftsmen.
Here, specialized craftsmen work in a division of labor, performing tasks such as splitting, excavating, and polishing.
It is said that each craftsman utilizes their expertise, and each product is created through every step of the process from quarrying to processing.

Dealing with natural materials like stone that emit energy nurtured by the earth, the items from AJI PROJECT boast delicate and excellent quality, utilizing the unique texture of Aji stone. 
Considering where to display them in my room has become one of my recent pleasures.