by Martin M. Pegler
Seeing is believing and seeing what a great display a shadowbox can be is almost un-believable. Grange Interiors in the Aberdeen section of Hong Kong uses simple, four-sided boxes designed by Stefano Tordiglione Design Studio. These boxes are backless and the wall can be seen through them.
The backless boxes, which allow the wall to be seen through their centers, are of assorted sizes and shapes. Although they do start at the floor and build up to be seen at eye level, they can just as easily be arranged atop a table or counter or nailed together and hung as a wall displayer.
This shadowbox arrangement found in a store that features mainly home furnishings allows the display of small accessories that could ordinarily—because of their size—be lost in the scheme of things. The simple clusters of same or go-together pieces get “featured attraction” billing in the store.
The red and white patterned pieces are complemented by the panel of red and white wallpaper (also available for sale in the store) that sets off the white chair in the foreground. The soft, neutral gray walls match the gray tones of the concrete and recycled wood floors and the crisp white outlines of the shadowboxes accentuate and highlight the wood tones.
The same sort of arrangement would make an ideal window display, and if used as individual units, the boxes can be rearranged in assorted ways—depending upon the merchandise to be displayed. Since the units are backless, they would be especially effective in open back windows where the display could also be appreciated inside the store as well as on the street.
Not a very difficult or expensive unit to make and with proper planning of sizes and shapes, they could nest when not in use.
(Photos courtesy of Stefano Tordiglione Design Studio, Hong Kong)
