DESIGN NAME: Bengalas
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Walking Sticks
INSPIRATION: I have been making fine furniture for almost 4 decades. Some old clients became my friends, and every now and then asked me to make a walking stick. I made one, two, three, and realized that there is not an actual fine walking stick in the market, in Brazil or abroad. That was my inspiration. The C handle is a classic. The T handle is my design.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The walking sticks are made to perfection of best quality red or white oak. Handles can have a C shape or a T shape. Walking sticks for men have a diameter of 25 mm; walking sticks for women are a little slimmer: 22 mm of diameter. The oak is FSC certified. All the handles of our walking sticks are reinforced with jacaranda paulista (Machaerium villosum), a Brazilian native wood. The walking sticks are finished, basically, with tung oil. The replaceable tips are made of aluminum and laminated rubber.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Oak wood is a very special material for the walking sticks: it is strong, beautiful, warm in the winter, fresh in the summer. I have heard from many buyers: "I love my walking stick. When I am not walking with her, I have her on my lap” or “I love to have my walking stick in my hands, even when I am not using it”.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in Sao Paulo in January 2016 and ended in São Paulo in January 2021.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The walking sticks are produced by fine artisans with regular woodworking machines and techniques, plus a CNC router to shape them and the MDF package. The replaceable tips are made of aluminum and laminated rubber. The aluminum parts are produced in a CNC lathe and anodized in black. The scientific names of the two woods are laser engraved. The walking sticks are finished with tung oil. The oak is FSC certified.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Walking sticks for men have a diameter of 25 mm; walking sticks for women are a little slimmer: 22 mm of diameter. The oak is FSC certified. The length is custom made. MDF Package: 105 cm long x 20 cm wide x 3.6 cm thick.
TAGS: walking stick, cane, luxury walking stick, wooden walking stick, fine walking stick, fine cane, de luxe walking stick, de luxe cane
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: I basically researched on the Internet. I saw thousands of walking sticks/canes before start making my own designs. From the very beginning, I wanted to have a walking stick: (1) of solid wood, (2) pleasant to touch, (3) with a decent tip (4) durable. The walking sticks are made of laminated oak and jacaranda paulista. The purpose: no joins, stability, and strength. The walking sticks have non slippery, replaceable and elegant tips.
CHALLENGE: Very few things are older in the history of humankind than a walking stick. At the present time, it was a real challenge to create something just a little better or slightly different from many many walking sticks. Having said that, I think I have created a walking stick that gathers several qualities: beauty, warmth, discretion, lightness, durability, and good design.
ADDED DATE: 2022-02-25 18:58:02
TEAM MEMBERS (3) : Designer: Alvaro Wolmer, Master Woodworker: Daniel Lavaroni and Master Woodworker: José de Deus Rocha
IMAGE CREDITS: All photos were taken by Ding Musa.
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: The design was registred in IAB - Instituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil.
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