A Good Tool
We have been fascinated with tools for as long as we can remember. Not just traditional “tools” like hammers or screwdrivers, but the idea of “tools” more broadly. A pen, paintbrush, drafting machines, typewriters, computers, axes, medical instruments, chainsaws, telescopes – objects that are extensions of us designed for a specific purpose. Growing up, both of us were surrounded by fixers, tinkerers, mechanics, inventors, creatives, medics, and artists. Tools were everywhere, and there were always the favorites, and the box of junk. Through talking about our favorites, we came to see how the design of the tool always came down to a two-sided proposition: the user and the purpose. We started a list of what was important – how well a tool accomplishes its task, how well it fits the hand – basically, defining for us what makes a “Good Tool.” Good Tools feel like they belong. They have purpose and balance. They are not more or less than they should be. They want to be used and feel accomplished when finished. They are durable and joyful in their application. The list went on. There are many examples of designers and products that really do a great job of thinking about the quality of design, function, materiality, etc. They are our heroes, and sometimes our friends and colleagues. At NewStudio we have started with just a few utilitarian objects. Our goal is to transform the overlooked and unappreciated, into what might be considered “Good Tools.” Your feedback and ideas are welcomed.
Sincerely,
Sean Wagner and Adam Järvi
The Story
Inspired by the early work of Florence Knoll, The Modern Pike fireplace tool set includes a bespoke stainless-steel shovel and fire-poker with locally sourced walnut handles. Their matching minimalist storage pedestal holds both the shovel and poker. The fire-poker combines the traditional fireman’s pike with the usefulness of a Bouffadous - the ancient French fire tool designed to add air to a fire in order to get fires going and keep them lit. Each set is handcrafted in our Saint Paul studio and will certainly complement any modern home.
The Handle
The handle of the Modern Pike was inspired by the hand grip of Sean’s first squash racquet – which sounds completely strange, we know, but you must start somewhere. There are so many different motions and purposes of a poker: push, pull, poke, drag, turn, stab, roll, lift, etc. all from a distance. So it is unlike a hammer or a bat. The motions are more subtle and controlled - requiring feel and dexterity, but strength. That brought us to racquet grips. The closed hand forms facets that change in length, size, and orientation from thumb to pinky. The facets on the handle provide a firm and stable surface for the thumb to ‘lock in’ the grip for safety, confidence, and control while using the pike. The larger gripping surface compared to traditional pokers, is more comfortable and ergonomic, giving greater dexterity and overall balance to the tool. Finally, as a good friend and client pointed out to Sean two decades ago – things that you touch, even if they are the most basic and utilitarian objects, should be beautiful. Walnut is just one of those materials that is durable, warm and takes on its own unique character as it ages.
The Blo-Poke
The French have a legend about a witch named Bouffanelle, which says that she lived in the forests of Gévaudan, a historical part of France that is now part of the Lozère. She had a magical ‘Devil’s wand’ with which she could summon the devil by blowing into the fire with this wand. The name ‘Bouffadou’ refers to this witch Bouffanelle. James Smith brought the “modern” blo-poke to the US in 1941. Essentially, the traditional French used a long hollowed stick to provide precise air to rekindle a banked fire while keeping a safe distance from the flames. The Modern Pike celebrates that tradition and functionality.