AJI PROJECT OT - PAPER WEIGHT / rust

AJI PROJECT

This product is from "AJI PROJECT," a beautiful design interior brand that uses Aji stone. Aji stone is a high-grade granite quarried from the rock face of Mt. Goken, which straddles 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 material that has been traditionally used in construction and stone statues for over 400 years. AJI PROJECT enhances its natural form and texture, elevating it into a design that suits modern lifestyles.
This paperweight, with its rounded form and cool, gentle texture when touched, exudes a subtly profound elegance. It can be used not only as a paperweight but also displayed as an object on books or shelves, creating a quiet conversation with the space.

Rich Texture Woven by Differences in Particle Size

The minerals contained in Aji stone have small crystals and are classified into "Komame" (fine-grained) and "Chume" (medium-grained) depending on the size of the grains. In addition, those with a high iron content, which are brownish in color, are called "Sabi stone" in the producing region.
The fine-grained Komame in the lower left is characterized by its delicate texture, and when polished carefully, it reveals a beautiful pattern like a double kasuri (ikat) weave.
The Chume in the lower right has small grains of biotite, one of the main components of Aji stone, and is characterized by appearing slightly whiter than Komame.
The Sabi stone in the upper center has long been used for gardens, but in recent years, it has reportedly been attracting attention as a building material. Named after its brownish "sabi (rust) color," it deepens with age, and it is surprising to hear that the beauty of its natural surface has a healing effect.

Elegant and Sturdy Aji Stone

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

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

A Form That Naturally Blends into Any Space

AJI PROJECT products are developed with great care for the feel of Aji stone, considering the stone's place within a space. Although seemingly unique, they surprisingly blend naturally into various spaces, as if they have always been there.

Stone Shapes That Bring Clear Air to a Space

The Aji stone producing region has a long history as a thriving stone industry area and is also known for the high skill of its artisans. Here, specialized artisans divide tasks such as splitting, excavating, and polishing. Each artisan utilizes their expertise, and a single product is created through each process from quarrying to processing.

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