Teyney 向日葵

向日葵｜楽しさも拡大してくれるルーペ

Sunflower｜Magnify your enjoyment through a lens

向日葵のような、太陽のような、微生物のような美しく懐かしいかたち。
宙に浮いた硝子玉の向こうに見えるのは、葉っぱや虫、文字…それともどんなものでしょう？

A beautiful yet evocative design, redolent of sunflowers, the sun, microscopic life.
Waiting to be discovered on the other side of the glass – leaves, insects, writing… what else lies in store?

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生物や自然の造形美を思わせる枠の中央にガラス玉が浮いているような、不思議な存在感を放つルーペ。何気ない日々の暮らしの中にも、ふと立ち止まって目を凝らして見てみると道端の葉っぱや虫の美しさ、雨の雫のプルンとした質感など、魅惑的なもので溢れていることに気付くことがあります。また、新聞の文字などを拡大して読む際も、視力という理由で受動的に使うのではなく、これを使って見たいな、と手に取りたくなるようなもの、首から下げておしゃれに持ち歩けるものがあれば、より心が弾む生活を送れそうです。

このルーペを常に手元に置いて頂き、普段の散歩や読書など日常の暮らしの中で老若男女に愛用して頂きたいと願っています。

「向日葵」は、初期構想から約4年の試行錯誤を経て完成した、製法にあらゆる工夫が詰まったプロダクトです。切削加工で使用する刃物の径を考慮しつつも全ての曲線を円弧ではなく有機的なカーブで構成するなど、3Dモデリングもこだわり尽くした一方、中央に繊細なガラスレンズが浮いたような構造の造形物を金属切削加工で本当に作れるのか…。無数の実験と失敗を重ね、華奢なフレーム形状の強度不足や圧力による微小な変形など、幾度も途中で諦めたくなりましたが、Teyneyが誇る工場職人の熱意と創意工夫により、我々自身も驚くようなプロダクトが完成しました。

The magnifying glass exudes a captivating and mystical presence, with a lens seemingly suspended at the center of an organic frame reminiscent of the beauty found in the natural world.  In the midst of our everyday lives, it’s easy to overlook enchanting details like the beauty of leaves and insects, or the exquisite texture of raindrops.  However, upon closer inspection, we can discover that the world around us is brimming with fascinating marvels.  

Furthermore, when it comes to magnifying text in newspapers or other reading materials, rather than being somewhat forced to use a device due to declining eyesight, having a magnifying glass that you’d want to pick up and use, perhaps even wear stylishly around your neck, can add a touch of joy to your life.

The aim is for people of all ages and genders to keep this magnifying glass readily available, using it during their everyday activities like walking or reading.

The Sunflower magnifying glass is the result of four years of trial and error and it incorporates ingenious craftsmanship in its construction.  While considering the diameter of the cutting tools used in the machining process, o-lab conducted extremely detailed 3D modeling where every surface is meticulously designed with organic curves rather than simple arcs.  However, the challenge was whether it was possible to create a structurally complex object like this, with a delicate glass lens seemingly suspended at its center, using metal machining processes.  Countless experiments and setbacks occurred, including concerns about the structural integrity of the slender frame shape and microscopic deformations caused by pressure.  There were many moments when we were tempted to give up along the way.  Yet, through the dedication and innovative thinking of the skilled artisans at Teyney, a product that left us frankly somewhat astonished has been brought to completion.

Teyneyな裏側