Introducing Esen Woodcraft...
Esen Woodcraft is Slovenia based craftsman Matije Rižner, who makes beautifully crafted kitchen utensils. He describes how he came to find his craft...
"I have been woodworking since 2012, when I found a little stick on my path and made a first small spoon for spices for my dear. From that moment It was always a special experience for me to make with wood. I was sanding spoons waiting on the bus... every time I had a minute, I used it for carving and sanding back then".
Pear Salad Servers
Black Walnut Spatula
"I decided to go on a college to the school of design - wood and [get] a degree in kitchen utensil's design. That was in 2014, where I also got workshop in neighbouring village Ruše, that is situated under a green & beautiful Pohorje hills that I am looking at from my workshop."
Black Walnut Ladle
"Slovenia has 58% of its land covered with forest and I use our local woods - mostly walnut, pear, cherry, maple and oak, that I usually get from local farmers. Black walnut also grows in Slovenia but rare so I buy it at wood stores nearby. I like to cooperate with local farmers and quite a lot of people call me that they have old walnut that will be cut and if I want to make something beautiful, I can take it. That is how I get quite a lot of my wood and is great for me to know the story of a tree behind. I can properly prepare wood in this way and it also to be of the [best] quality."
Pear Utensils
Esen Woodcraft utensils pair beautifully with our other wood kitchen wares from Opus Lab. Both gracefully crafted with an understanding of quality, simplicity and practical beauty. Perfect as a housewarming or wedding gift, or just as a special handcrafted tool, they will bring pleasure to the most simple cooking adventure.
See more of Esen Woodcraft here
Parts of this interview were edited for clarity
