Lamb Stool – A Fusion of Tradition and Innovative Design

Through the Rings in Water project, ÚĽUV initiates the creation of new designer products inspired by traditional craftsmanship. This project fosters a dialogue about traditional values, their preservation, and their role in contemporary craft, applied arts, and design. Over the years, the Pings in Water competition has become a respected showcase, recognized both in Slovakia and internationally.

One of the standout products presented at the exhibition is the Lamb stool. This series of products draws its primary inspiration from the iconic motif of the ram. The stool’s design combines traditional materials, technological ingenuity, and high-quality craftsmanship. Its distinctive rounded and cylindrical shape conveys a youthful, warm, safe, and harmonious feel. The Baranček stool is highly versatile—it can serve as a children’s toy, a stool, a small chair, or simply a decorative object that adds a playful and fun element to any space.

Childhood Inspiration and Craftsmanship

As children, we often create games using elements that were not originally intended for play—building structures from snow and sand, using wooden spools driven by water, or playing with a wooden sawhorse. The latter served as one of the main inspirations for the design of the Baranček stool. The idea was to bring an outdoor element into interior spaces and give it a new typology.

The design of the stool also references the traditional process of tanning, where sheepskins are draped over wooden structures to dry before being softened. By merging these two sources of inspiration, the Lamb stool emerged as a unique product that seamlessly integrates traditional craftsmanship into modern design.

The Lamb stool demonstrates that traditional craftsmanship can be a rich source of inspiration for contemporary design, blending aesthetics, functionality, and storytelling. This project highlights the significance of artisanal techniques and their application in modern creative work, promoting the preservation of cultural heritage while reinterpreting it for future generations.

📅 Date: Nov 25, 2022 – Mar 31, 2023

📍 Exhibition Name: Rings in Water 2022

📌 Venue: ÚĽUV Gallery (Obchodná 64, Bratislava, Slovakia)