Join us in conversation with one of Britain's most remarkable names - Bill Amberg, and discover how together with Savoir he embarked on a journey of the Ocean Bed design.
At Savoir, we collaborate with leaders, masters, and the most respected names within the design. We are thrilled to reveal our recent collaboration with the master of leatherwork, Bill Amberg. One of the most respected names in contemporary British leather craft; we went on a journey with Bill to reawaken the leather bed.
The new leather bed design from Bill Amberg is a celebration of British craft and innovation. Based a stone’s throw away from the Savoir Bedworks in Northwest London, we sat down with Bill in his studio to discuss how he brought together a modern aesthetic. This is done through pioneering a leather printing technique and heritage craft to deliver a fresh approach to a classic piece of furniture.
The inspiration was from the light at dawn, moving into day and the light over the ocean in the very early hours respectively. I created two paintings that for me, reflect these calm and quite cathartic periods of the day.
Savoir: What was the inspiration behind the bed designs?
Bill Amberg:There are two designs, ‘Sky’ and ‘Ocean.’ For both, I found the idea of transitioning from dark into light interesting. The gentle shift from night into day and from the sleeping into the waking hours.
The inspiration was from the light at dawn, moving into day and the light over the ocean in the very early hours respectively. I created two paintings that for me, reflect these calm and quite cathartic periods of the day.
What was your design process for creating the two moods?
Firstly, I created some A4 watercolours, and then scaled these up to A2 watercolours, applied using a mix of sprays and marbling techniques. Once I’d captured the mood of the dawning, I transferred to 2×3 metre sheets of watercolour paper and created full-size paintings. Drawing on intricate details from the sky and the ocean. Finally, these were then scanned 1:1, in preparation for digital printing.
Tell us why you introduced brass into the design?
I love brass for its softness and malleability, but also for its colour. It’s a very sympathetic material to put with leather and so much nicer to live with than steel.
Why did you choose to collaborate with Savoir?
When I called in on the Savoir factory, which is just around the corner from us in North West London, I was in awe at the quality of their work. That really got me thinking about sleep and my perfect bed. It started the thought process about the transition from dark into light; and how we might realise that together.
How important is British craft to you?
As a team of designers and specialist leatherworkers, my business is rooted in craft. From the selection of materials and their provenance (including well-being and husbandry of the animal), through to creation and development of leathers. The leathercraft techniques involved and the physical act of crafting what we make. All aspects of British craftsmanship are central to the work of my studio, and always have been.
We bring together artisans from very traditional leathercraft disciplines, including saddlery, casemaking, bookbinding and bag making. The idea is that everyone cross-trains and learns from each other. In this way, we’re able to reinterpret these traditional skills, for use in contemporary interiors, furniture and products.
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