The god Somnus strikes Palinurus on the temples with a branch dipped in the ‘dew of Lethe,’ and Aeneas’ helmsman falls asleep. Known in Greek as Hypnos, the god of sleep glides down from the heavenly places in a swirl of dark air which dispels the shadows. Then, according to Virgil, one of the great poets of antiquity, he soars up and vanishes into the night. The new table clock, designed by Alessandro Zambelli for Diamantini & Domeniconi, is named after this god and first goes on show at Maison et Objet in Paris from 6 – 10 September (Hall 8 now, Stand A35 – B36).
The god Hypnos – Ipno – is the son of night. The name is apt for this furnishing accessory, because the designer has given it an almost hypnotic feature: an internal pendulum. Functioning as a balance, this sways the case in perpetual motion and transforms Ipno into a ‘rocking’ clock. It is like a contemporary evolution of the pendulum clock of past ages, but wry, dynamic and creative. Here at long last is a clock free to move in space and support its own harmonic motion. It need not be wall-mounted, but can stand alone.Ipno measures 16 cm L x 20 H x 6 D. The birch case is available in a natural finish or painted in various colours. Alternatives are medium walnut or mahogany. Ipno goes on sale to the public at € 85.
courtesy Alessandro Zambelli design studio
courtesy Alessandro Zambelli design studio
courtesy Alessandro Zambelli design studio
courtesy Alessandro Zambelli design studio