Please join us on Thursday, May 16th to celebrate Mike Ruiz Serra’s debut hardware collection. Cocktails will be served at Colbo NYC from 6 PM onwards.
Over the past four years, Mike Ruiz Serra has been hand sculpting an array of objects for the home, which are then cast in iron. These playful explorations primarily include cookware, tableware, hardware and lighting. Previously, these pieces were only available as special commissions or through small batch studio sales. Mike’s dinnerware was most notably commissioned by the NYC restaurant GEM for their Winter 2022 tasting menu. A small cookware collection was also available through a daytime shop set up at the restaurant.
After perfecting his unconventional molding process and developing more intimate relationships with eclectic American foundries, Mike decided it was time to launch a more widely available collection. The collection, called Serra Hardware, is currently focused on manufacturing hardware, lighting, and custom wooden cabinetry.
Serra Hardware is characterized by its crude texture and irregular forms. Both traits are not typically associated with cast iron products. Mike forgoes many of the conventional stages of product development and pattern making for cast iron in favor of working more intuitively. During the prototyping phase, the designs are simply sculpted in clay, then glued to a matchplate ready to be cast. When necessary, 3D printed armatures are used to ensure all the mounting points and drilling holes are in the right places. This process allows for quick product development and lends itself nicely to a wide array of custom projects. Most importantly, the process is relatively care-free and fun, which ultimately shines through in the finished products.
