Since setting up his eponymous company, Padraig O'Murchu, in 1996, the Co Wicklow-born designer has garnered both critical and commercial acclaim in equal measure and has established a reputation for innovative design and quality of craftsmanship.

In addition to a steadily growing clientele both at home and abroad, he has won a series of awards, including Product of the Show in the General House wares category at last year's Autumn Fair held in the RDS Simmonscourt.

While many designers recite a diverse and extensive catalogue of inspirations, Padraig admitted that he rarely has to look beyond his raw material of choice. “I draw inspiration from the duality of metal, its ability to be molten and fluid in one state yet cool and structured in another,” he said.

A quick glance at his latest collection leaves the casual browser in little doubt as to the versatility of the material. The range, entitled Metal Sculpture, comprises 18 limited edition, handcrafted designs. They range from decorative sculptures to functional accessories, such as wine holders and sculptured fruit bowls.

The eye-catching pieces, which are priced from €50 to €5000, are as close to perfection as any handmade object can aspire to be, yet are brought to life through barely discernible inconsistencies, such as variations in the rim of the bowls or subtle differences in their finish.

Despite an obvious proficiency in his work, metal was, surprisingly, not Padraig's original material of choice. Rather, he trained as a cabinet maker, serving his apprenticeship in Ireland before moving to London where he specialised in bespoke furnishings. It was not until a subsequent move to the US, where he worked for a design company, that he first came into contact with the use of alternative materials, thus sparking the beginning of a love affair with metal.

“I moved away from solely using timber and started mixing various combinations of metal, clay and stone,” he said. “The same principles

apply in tooling but I loved the flexibility of molten metal and the way in which the material can be shaped into such a diverse range of shapes.”

O'Murchu admitted that he favoured an organic approach to his craft. “Design sometimes happens by accident; you are working with hot metal and perhaps you twist it in an unusual way and then you realise you now have a workable design.” This is reflected in the diversity of the accessories in the Metal Sculpture collection.

Rather than using one dominant theme or adhering to a consistent aesthetic, the range encompasses a broad range of styles. Several of the pieces marry sensual curves with asymmetrical lines in a harmonious union, for instance, while others introduce additional materials such as leather to provide a contrast to the starkness of the metal.

“This particular range has been designed to produce functional art forms combining the use of alternative mediums,” he said. “By incorporating natural leather lacing in the metal sculptures we have created a fusion between the two mediums and have achieved a natural balance.”

To enhance the ability of the pieces to blend in with a diverse range of decors, Padraig and his design team have produced each of the 18 accessories in a choice of finishes. “We have developed a copper finish, which is used on all of our collections, and a clay and stone mix in a beige colour that makes our lines very distinctive,” he said. While the metal accessories have an undeniably contemporary aesthetic, they sit easily in both modern and traditional settings.

“They're designed to be functional and decorative home accessories to complement any modern interior”.