Nº 5 CAKE STAND
An Ode to the Shongololos
Rain is coming.
Back home on the farm in South Africa, dry spells are occasionally interrupted by spectacular summer thunderstorms. As the seasons progresses, the savannah’s parched earth begins to crack. Bursting open, it welcomes the dark wall forming on the horizon with open arms.
Flocks of birds swoop across the skies. Blades of grass break out in a dance as the wind sweeps in. Excitement fills the air as dramatic clouds roll in over the plains from afar.
Thrashing rains. Torrential downpours. Thick drops pound the soil, driving all lifeforms to retreat to safety. Thunder billows. Lightning crashes… and then, just as quickly as it comes, it passes!
The air feels lighter, its weightlessness infused with the fresh scent of water. The soil has swallowed back up yesterday’s dust; the sun quickly dissolves the blanket of clouds and drenches the earth in her rays.
Suddenly, like clockwork they appear above ground — little clusters of Shongololos crawl out from their nests. While the pitter-patter of these dark millipedes’ thousands of tiny legs is inaudible to the human ear, their presence echoes through the landscape.
The word Shongololo is common in many Southern African languages, including Afrikaans. It is rooted in the Xhosa and Zulu word ‘ukushonga’, meaning ‘to roll up’, as these critters curl up in a circle.
Nº 5 CAKE STAND — where there is rain, there is Shongololo movement.
Memories of home.
The Design
Nº 5 CAKE STAND is a sculptural tableware object with round-shaped Shongololo legs, an organic form echoed by the board’s edge. Each is made from carefully selected solid wood sourced from sustainably managed forests in Germany. As wood is a natural material and the individual pieces are handcrafted, each object is unique.
Nº 5 CAKE STAND comprises a limited edition of three. It is available in a variety of wood types and food-safe oil finishes, all of which comply with the DIN 53 160 & Norm EN 71-3 standards. A distinctive sanding technique is used to ensure the pieces will remain smooth after being used and cleaned regularly over time.
Each object is made to last and promises to age beautifully with use.
Collaboration
This bespoke piece was designed for MATTER of COURSE’s “ICH und DU” exhibition at MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2022. Nicolene van der Walt and Carolin Zeyher reflected on the spaces between each other and the connections that bind them together by engaging in an artistic dialogue — each created a tableware object in the same dimensions, using the same materials, yet in their own signature styles. In a celebration of ‘togetherness’, viewers were invited to gather around a festive table displaying both objects.
Dimensions
L: 960 mm | W: 290 mm | H: 80 mm
