Jan 16, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: A Crazy Crystal Chair Grown Just Like Rock Candy

"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
01
spider-08
Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka's Spider's Thread chair is manufactured the same way a confectioner produces rock candy.
"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
02
spider-12
He encases objects in crystal husks by submerging them in a supersaturated mineral bath for long periods and allowing a process called crystal nucleation to take place.

"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
03
spider-02
His latest work is even more adventurous, relying on a substrate of just seven silk threads that sketch the ghostly outline of a chair within a metal frame.
"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
04
spider-01
The frame was submerged in a tank of minerals and over a period of months the crystals coalesced, transforming limp threads into a structure that can stand on its own.

"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
05
spider-11
"In the process of crystallized project, I came up with the idea of creating a structure with threads," says Yoshioka. "I chose a form of chair because, as a structural creation, a chair is such a symbolic form all over the world."
Photo: Tokujin Yoshioka
06
spider-10

"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
07
spider-07
The sculpture has no bearing weight and even if it could support a person, its surface is closer to that of a porcupine than plush club chair.
"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
08
spider-06

"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
09
spider-05
"Through the creation collaborated with nature, I go through a variety of experiments such as finding the unimaginable beauty or facing the unexpected mistakes over and over again during creation," says Yoshioka.
"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
10
spider-04
With the work obscured in a foggy bath of minerals, Yoshioka must rely on his faith in chemistry and trust his own skills that the crystals are forming and that given time, they will yield an object of immense beauty.

"Photos by" Tokujin Yoshioka
11
spider-03
The Spider's Thread chair is on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo.

The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For

AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.

Miles Klee

A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why

Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.

Stephanie Pearson

It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend

Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.

Luke Larsen

There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home

Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.

Jeremy White

The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones

As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.

Miles Klee

Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good

This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.

Christopher Null

The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App

The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.

Matthew Korfhage